Man of Steel in Steel City! Security guard dressed as Superman catches shoplifter



Luke Junior, 24, spotted suspect fleeing from store in Sheffield

Superhero fan held suspect until police arrived to take him away

Film fan was taking part in charity event nearby wearing a £500 costume

Luke was already called Superman by friends after pulling two men out of a car after a crash



Real life superhero: Luke Junior, 24, who detained a shoplifter in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

The suspected thief fleeing a frozen food store with £10 worth of bacon was hardly in the arch-villain class.

But that did not deter Superman from swooping into action.

The Man of Steel, alias security guard Luke Junior, was wearing his red-and-blue caped outfit as part of an outdoor charity family fun day, with stalls and games for children.

When he saw staff chasing the shoplifter from the store, he grabbed the man, swiftly placed him in an armlock and held him until two policewomen arrived to arrest him.

As they marched the offender away in handcuffs, Superman was given a round of applause by onlookers while the movie’s theme tune was played over loudspeakers by the DJ who was hosting the event in Sheffield – coincidentally the City of Steel.

The drama unfolded as 24-year-old Mr Junior was helping the Gleadless Valley Community Action Group raise money for a skate park.

A Superman fanatic, he imported the £500 costume from Argentina and is a regular figure at charity events in South Yorkshire.

As he chatted with members of the public outside a Cash Converters shop, the 38-year-old thief emerged from Heron Foods pursued by the manager and others. He has since admitted theft of seven packs of bacon and is awaiting sentence.

Recalling the citizen’s arrest, Mr Junior said: ‘The last thing you want to do is run straight into Superman. He was going nowhere but the police station.

‘I saw the manager chasing him and I felt I had to physically restrain him and make a citizen’s arrest. I wouldn’t advise everybody to do it because it can be dangerous and it’s not something to take on lightly.

‘I had to pin him up against the window of the Cash Converters store. I had his arm up his back and I wasn’t letting him go.

Scroll down for an interview with 'Superman'...



Citizen's arrest: Luke Junior holds the suspected thief against a shop window and waits for police to arrive Detained: Luke Junior holds on to the suspected thief in Sheffield as he waits for police to arrive Caught: The suspected thief is pinned against the wall by the 'superhero' who spotted the man being pursued by store workers

‘There was a bit of adrenaline and I did it without thinking too much, but when that stopped I realised I was still dressed as Superman. I’ve not lived it down since it happened.’



He said the police officers ‘didn’t even crack a smile’ but families involved in the charity event were cheering and clapping the real-life superhero.

Mr Junior has a ferret called Kal-El – Superman’s Kryptonian name – and a girlfriend named not Lois Lane but Charlotte Smith.



He works as a shopping centre security guard but has ambitions to become a fireman.

He has already staked his claim to hero status after a crash eight years ago when he dragged two ‘boy racers’ out of their car following a collision.

‘I’m waiting until the fire service can recruit again and then I want to save people,’ he said.

‘The main priority was protecting kids and the public. When I was younger I always said I wanted to be some sort of Superman and the things I’m doing at the moment it’s like I already am.’

Karen Bayliss, assistant manager at Heron Foods, said: ‘A sales assistant and the manager needed some help and Superman came along.

‘We’ve got a hotline now to Superman in case there’s any more trouble.’