Picture by Daily Echo reader Chris Slater

THIS is the dramatic moment an alleged shoplifter hung out of a window 30ft above the ground as he tried to escape from a supermarket office.

Crowds of people stared on in disbelief as the man, left in the picture, smashed a first-floor window at Bitterne's Sainsbury's store before attempting to climb through it.

Staff battled to hang on to the man for 20 minutes while they waited for police to arrive on the scene while a colleague hung out of a neighbouring window, right.

More than 100 shoppers gathered in the street below to watch the drama unfold.

It only ended when the man was dragged back inside the building by staff. Police officers turned up minutes later.

Eyewitness Chris Slater had been sitting drinking coffee at a café opposite the store in Bitterne Road at around 9.30am yesterday when he spotted the man.

Chris, 48, a leading hand at Southampton Airport, said: "I heard an almighty crash and all of a sudden I could hear a lot of swearing and shouting. I looked up and I could see this guy had smashed the window.

"He had the best part of his body leaning outside. I had no idea what he was trying to do but there were people in Sainsbury's shirts holding on to him and trying to stop him from jumping. They had a strong grip on him. I can't imagine why the Sainsbury's employee was hanging out of the other window as it was quite dangerous.

The Sainsbury's store

"It was a bit frightening for mums who were running past with their pushchairs. People were screaming and others were shouting jump'."

The Daily Echo understands that the man had been caught shoplifting and was waiting in an upstairs room for the police to arrive when he made a sudden break for the window.

Chris added: "Bitterne is normally very quiet but there were people coming out of shops everywhere to watch. I have never seen anything like it. It certainly added a bit of excitement to my morning."

Staff at the Bitterne store refused to comment on the incident and a Sainsbury's head office spokeswoman said she knew nothing about it.

A police spokesman said two men were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and causing criminal damage following the incident. Last night they were helping officers with their inquiries.

10:00am Friday 9th May 2008

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