‘Shoplifter’ dies after being tackled by security guard

A SUSPECTED shoplifter has died after being apprehended by a security guard.

The man, who has not been named, suffered a “significant injury” when glass bottles he was concealing smashed when he was tackled by the 20-year-old security guard at The Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge, Wilts.

The security guard has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and was later released on bail until May, Wiltshire Police said.

Officers were called to the shopping centre on Thursday just after 3pm on February 9 following reports a man had been seriously injured following an altercation. A 30-year-old, of no fixed address, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said he was suspected of committing a number of shoplifting offences in the town.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeremy Carter said: “The man arrested is a security guard from a local store.

“He tackled the suspected shoplifter causing a number of glass bottles he was concealing to smash.”

Formal identification had yet to be carried out and a post mortem examination was due to be carried out.