A man who kicked and smashed a bus door in Croydon was arrested after being apprehended by two PCSOs.

The officers, Ben McCartney and Sam Rogers, were on routine patrols in Katherine Street on Wednesday, December 7, when they noticed a man who was banging at a bus door, which was about to pull away from the stop.

As the bus was pulling away, the man kicked at the door and smashed the glass window, before running away.

The PCSOs followed the man and detained him nearby, waiting for police officers from the Safer Transport team to attend and arrest him.

The 33-year-old man was arrested for criminal damage, and taken to Croydon police station, where he was interviewed and was given a caution for criminal damage.

Inspector Jason Frith, of Croydon’s Safer Transport Team (STT) said: “This man had just missed the bus and thought it was ok to bang and hit the door window, and in his anger, he caused it to smash, which meant delays and for other people using the service.

“However, thanks to the PCSOs and police officers on patrol, we were able to quickly intervene and arrest the man responsible. We carry out regular patrols in and around the bus hubs in Croydon and we will make sure that anyone causing problems is dealt with.”

Officers from Croydon’s STT will also be out and about tomorrow (Thursday) in and around West Croydon bus station as part of Operation Spiderweb, which is aimed at tackling pickpockets.

Croydon STT officers, alongside colleagues from the British Transport Police will be giving people crime prevention advice about how to avoid being a victim of pickpocketing.