A POLICE helicopter helped officers to find a man suspected of shoplifting.

The helicopter happened to be flying over Malvern when police spotted the 51-year-old man in the town.

Witnesses say the suspect ran away from his car when police officers approached him earlier today.

Police believe he stole items from a store in Alcester this morning and traced his car to Malvern. 

He has since been arrested.

Duty Inspector Tanya Beckett said: "He ran off. He was seen outside the back of Waitrose. 

"We think he committed a further offence at Waitrose. He left the store and was seen to depart in a car."

Staff at home furnishing store Gordon Smith, in Church Street, Malvern, said a man ran away from police officers when they approached his car.

An employee said he got out of the parked car in Edith Walk, Malvern, and fled the scene.

They claimed a police dog then chased after him.

Anyone with information can ring the police on 101 quoting incident number 221s of August 18.