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Wales Online
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Dylan James

Springbok legend Jean de Villiers caught on camera chasing down thief while shopping

CCTV footage shows South Africa icon Jean de Villiers catching and detaining a shoplifter.

The 109-cap Springbok, now 41, was shopping at The Boer and Butcher shop with his wife Marlie on Monday, January 23, in Paarl, South Africa, when the incident occurred.

A man entered the store sipping from a drinks bottle, and began taking items from the shelves and putting them into his bag. When the couple eventually regroup after browsing the store and begin to queue with their shopping, the man continues to take from the shelf in perfect sight of the couple.

The 6ft 3in rugby powerhouse shook his head and put down his shopping as the thief began to exit the store. Jean went after the man in what appears to be a pair of sliders, not the ideal footwear for chasing anyone down.

As the thief caught wind that he was being hunted down by a towering figure, he took off. Jean's footwear unsurprisingly flew off in the pursuit, but seconds later Jean was escorting the suspect back into the shop holding his hoodie, with the bag in his other hand.

A shop staff member led away the perpetrator, before Jean and Marlie exited the store with their items while holding hands. The shoplifter was later handed over to the authorities.

The wing-turned-centre enjoyed an illustrious career which saw him win a World Cup, and his ply his club trade in Ireland, England and South Africa.

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