A Netto manager in Odder chased down shoplifters in his own car after they drove toward a bystander, triggering a pursuit that ended only when the getaway vehicle lost a tyre and crashed on Nygade.
According to TV 2 Østjylland, the thieves made off with groceries worth between 5,000 and 10,000 kroner on Friday afternoon. In this telling, it was not the value of the goods but the manager’s decision to block the escape route that turned a routine theft into a public-safety incident.
Martin Storm, store manager at Netto in Vennelundsparken, Odder, told TV 2 Østjylland the situation became dangerous when the fleeing car headed toward someone nearby. He and colleagues stepped into the road to stop the vehicle. Instead of braking, the driver struck Storm’s car and accelerated away.
From Theft to Chase in Seconds
As reported by TV 2 Østjylland, Storm said his team would never normally pursue shoplifters. But this time the circumstances changed his calculation. According to the manager, the car was moving in the area around the shop and people were close by, which he perceived as dangerous.
He got into his vehicle and followed. The getaway car punctured a tyre on Snærildvej, kept moving into the centre of Odder, and finally lost control on Nygade. The driver abandoned the vehicle there. All the stolen goods were still inside.
No Arrests Yet, Police Have Footage
TV 2 Østjylland reported that they had not received a police comment and that the manager was not aware of any arrests at the time of publication. Storm said he had passed surveillance footage to Østjyllands Politi.
Storm posted a description of the chase on the store’s Facebook page. According to TV 2, based on that post, this account provides the most granular route detail available. In his Facebook post and interview, the manager describes his intervention as a response to what he saw as a dangerous situation.
The Risk Calculation
As reported by TV 2 Østjylland, no one was physically hurt. That outcome may vindicate Storm’s judgment in his own eyes. But this incident shows how, in this case, a shoplifting episode escalated into a road-safety situation involving bystanders and drivers.
The car hit the manager’s vehicle, continued on a punctured tyre, and was driven through Odder before crashing and being abandoned on Nygade. Each of those stages carried risk. Critics could argue that civilian pursuit may have amplified the danger rather than containing it.
What Should Witnesses Do?
Store staff facing a similar incident should prioritise personal safety over property. Record descriptions, preserve CCTV footage, and document damage. As general guidance, leaving the pursuit to police is advisable unless an immediate threat to life justifies intervention.
Storm told TV 2 Østjylland that intervention was necessary because the situation had become clearly dangerous. It is a judgment call that many retail workers may not feel prepared or trained to make. The absence of injury in this case does not establish a template for others.
A Local Shoplifting Incident With Broader Implications
This story matters because it shows how retail theft can spill into public space and affect anyone present. In this case, shoppers, pedestrians, and drivers in the area were drawn into the incident’s risk environment, whether they wanted to be or not.
The article does not identify the suspects or their nationality. The incident took place at a Netto store in Odder, a town of roughly 11,000 to 12,000 residents according to municipal figures, in a built-up area with shops.
Østjyllands Politi will decide how to handle the case. At the time of the TV 2 Østjylland report, the manager had not heard of any arrests. Whether the outcome justifies the method will depend on police assessment and any legal follow-up.
For now, the crashed car on Nygade marks how this particular small-town shoplifting incident turned into a road chase. In this case, the shop manager decided he could not wait for police to arrive.
