By Gary Corbett

IT just was not a good day for four dumb and even dumber thieves in Beaudesert last week.

Three of the four were arrested by police the following day after falling to the oldest trick in the business - do not stage a robbery in front of a burly ex-security guard fitness instructor with a policewoman for a wife.

In what turned out to be a farcical chain of events, the four men aged in their early 20s stole four high definition personal DVD players from Aldi at about 11am on Tuesday.

But at no stage did the offenders try to hide their identities, nor did they think about using a getaway vehicle.

Instead, they calmly made their escape with their ill-gotten gains on foot straight past personal trainer Simon Joyce, 35, who had been watching things unfold from next door at Snap Fitness.

After seeing Aldi staff emerge from the store after the men, he phoned his wife, Chanelle (who is on maternity leave from the police force) and took off in pursuit along with a friend who he had just met for lunch.

Apparently unperturbed that they were being followed, the offenders headed in the direction of Beaudesert High School with the video equipment.

“We just kept walking with them and walking with them,” he said.

“My wife called the police so we could continue to keep an eye on them.

“We did lose them for a brief period, but finally managed to catch up with two of them.

• Read more in this week's Beaudesert Times. On sale at local newsagents.