Three men have been praised for their heroic actions in apprehending two thieves stealing from an Otley business.

Oliver Packett, of Menston, James Thompson, of Baildon and Karim Sadouk, of Guiseley, were driving past Wharfe View Newsagents, on Bridge Street, at 3am last Saturday when they saw something suspicious.

The young men heard the shop alarm going off and saw two figures inside, they turned their car around and saw the thieves running from the shop with cigarettes and chocolate.

They jumped out of their car and caught the suspects and took them across the road to Otley Police Station where they were arrested.

PC David Robinson, of Otley Police Station, has praised their actions.

"The actions of these youths thwarted an attempted burglary," he said.

"It is pleasing to see young people willing to do something about crime in the community.

"It is encouraging and satisfying that they chose to act rather than driving on by.

"This was a very successful outcome to the incident but we would not encourage members of the public to physically intervene, instead they should contact the police in the first instance."

They have been recommended to receive a commendation for their actions.

Oliver was driving his friends back from Leeds when they saw the alarm going off.

The 19-year-old said: "We saw some people inside, so I turned the car around and two people ran out of the shop.

"We jumped out of the car and chased them and marched them to Otley Police Station.

"They were carrying about 2,000 cigarettes and chocolates and sweets. They tried to bribe us at first.

"We weren't scared because none of us are small lads.

"We rang the police from the phone outside Otley Police Station to get through to the people inside, but it put us through to Wakefield.

"They said they would send a squad car, but we said we were already at the police station and eventually they sent some people down to open the door and arrest them. The policeman