Shropshire father-of-two gives burglar 'a bit of a hiding'
A Shropshire father-of-two today told how he gave a burglar "a bit of a hiding" after coming face-to-face with him in the middle of the night.
Alan Preece said: "I get some comfort out of giving one of them a few smacks but I just wish I'd hit him harder now."
Mr Preece was asleep in his downstairs bedroom when he woke to find his front door wide open and living room light on.
The 46-year-old, who lives in Highley, near Bridgnorth, got out of bed and saw the thief in his hallway.
He battled with the burglar who managed to wriggle free and escape through his front door.
It was only after the "surreal" moment that Mr Preece, who was on his own at the time, realised his car had been stolen off his drive on the Rhea Hall estate.
He believes the burglars entered his house through the kitchen window and had already rolled his car off the drive before he was disturbed.
Mr Preece said he was glad his 18-year-old daughter, Libby, and 20-year-old son, Ashley, were not with him at the time.
He said: "I woke up and saw the front door was wide open.
