PHOTOGRAPHER Brett Costello is normally a smooth conversationalist in any circumstance so it was clear as he walked through the metal detector at the Sambodromo stadium something was seriously wrong.

I asked him three questions about our filing plans for the archery competition we were about to attend and he failed to answer any of them.

Distracted and clearly discomforted. he looked left, right, then down then finally straight at me and whispered with great intensity “mate ... that’s him ... that’s the guy who stole my gear.’

News Corp photographer robbed in Rio News Corp photographer robbed in Rio

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Costello was shattered at having $40,000 worth of camera equipment brazenly snatched in a planned robbery last week and the man who directed traffic in the heist was suddenly standing behind him.

“Are you sure it’s him?’’ I asked before he swiftly provided the answer that settled all doubts.

“He’s got my f ... ing vest on.’’

Brett knew the number on his Games photographer’s vest — 1467 — and never thought he would see it again.

The very sight of it made him sick. He could barely speak.

And he felt even worse about a minute later when he was talking to security about the need to apprehend the first man when an older man (identified as Marco Peno by police), the one who actually snatched his bag last week, ghosted past as well.

BIZARRE TWIST: Got him! We catch the Rio camera thief

Cool as you like, the younger man (Williams Toledo) masqueraded as a photographer, slowly walked through the media throng and wandered in no particular hurry around the back of the stadium.

Brett immediately hatched a plan to catch him.

He would contact police and I would follow the thief, stay out of his immediate line of sight, then alert police via Brett to his whereabouts when they arrived.

It worked well for about three minutes as Toledo strolled to the practice range and watched the Australian archers warm up and I stood about 30 metres behind him.

But then trouble struck — my wretched mobile phone battery quit.

Some people have an inner strength that spurs them to make citizens arrests and tackle villains on the run — I wouldn’t tackle a ham sandwich.

Desperate to stay in contact with Brett I was forced to start my laptop, and awkwardly start recharging my phone bay by plugging it in the side.

I continued my journey with my phone on my ear connected to my laptop which, by necessity, I held at about shoulder level.

At one stage the villain turned and looked quizzically at me.

I was not sure whether he was thinking “this man is following me’’ or “that’s an unusual look — on a phone connected to a laptop walking out the back of a grandstand.’’

He then slipped quietly into the media tent — do you mind? — where he sauntered for a while and when he emerged the police emergence were starting to rouse.

They reacted swiftly and impressively but cautiously at first which was understandable because we could not understand their language and them ours so it was difficult to connect.

The key agitator in the arrest was the venue’s digital media manager Clarissa Pravetta who asked Toledo the question which brought him down.

“If you have the photographers bib where is your official photographers accreditation that goes with it — you cannot have the bib without it?’’

Apparently he told the police “I left it in my hotel’’ and when they said “which one?’’ he could not answer and that was the end of him.

People criticise the Brazilian police but you won’t read it from me after the way they responded yesterday.

The search continues for Brett’s lost gear and police were hopeful of a breakthrough. You never know. This city is full of surprises.