AN eyewitness has spoken of the moment he saw police dog handlers chase down a suspected burglar and pin him to the floor.

Ross Ferry, 27, from Laindon, spotted the Essex Police dog unit shout and grab a man in St Nicholas Lane at about 2pm on Sunday following an attempted break-in.

He said that after the dog handler managed to pin him to the floor, he asked a passer-by to place the handcuffs on the suspect because he was holding back the dog.

He said: “The policeman and police dog chased him across the road and the officer shouted at him to get him on the floor. When he shouted at him to get on the floor, the man just laid down. I think another man ran off.

“He then got a passer-by to handcuff him as he had the police dog by the collar.

“The police officer called for back-up and they put him in a police car.

“The man was on the floor for about ten minutes and then he was put up against a wall. I think the other man ran up the hill. The dog did a good job by guarding the man.”

A man living in Pauls Road, Laindon, who did not want to be identified, said that the police were called after two hooded youths tried to break into a property.

Fortunately they were disturbed after neighbours raised the alarm.

He said: “Two kids jumped over the gate and smashed a window.

“They didn’t gain entry as the two neighbours alerted the police and made some noise, causing them to run off.”

An Essex Police spokesman said that it was unusual for a member of the public to assist in the middle of an ongoing incident. He said: “A dog handler arrested the man and detained him on the ground.

“In order to detain him in the safest possible way, he requested the help of a passer-by to put the handcuffs on the man.

“We often rely on assistance from members of the public but it is rare that that help is needed so directly in the midst of an incident.

“We are very grateful for their help.”

Anyone with information about break-ins in Basildon can call Essex Police on 101 or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Essex Police have charged a man with attempted burglary.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police were called with reports of two men attempting to enter a house in Pauls Road, Laindon, at 1.40pm on June 25.

“Officers searched the area and a man was arrested in St Nicholas Lane.

“Austin Carter, 18, of Great Oxcroft, Laindon, was later charged with attempted burglary and is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on July 27.”