A BRAVE member of staff was almost run over by "dangerous thugs" stealing steel from a Brierley Hill firm.

Chloe Fowler rushed to try to stop a car leaving AED Rollers on the Albion Works in Moor Street after the driver had loaded in a steel bar and was about to drive off.

She stood in front of the Vauxhall Zafira at around 12.30pm yesterday (Tuesday May 10) but the thieves would not stop and kept on driving with no concern for her safety.

They have been branded "dangerous thugs" by Chloe's dad Phil Bevan, who is the firm's managing director.

Phil said Chloe could easily have been seriously hurt.

The thieves escaped with the stainless steel bar, which is worth around £400.

Phil said: "Chloe was almost run over trying to stop the theft.

"These thugs are dangerous and Chloe is not only extremely brave, but could have easily been knocked to the ground and run over.

"They clearly had no concern for anyone’s safety.

"It's awful to think what could have happened.

"They weren't stopping for anything."

Chloe, aged 28, who is the firm's manager, saw the theft unfolding on CCTV and stepped in.

She said: "I just panicked and thought how can I stop them, but they just carried on driving.

"I didn't realise how far they pushed me with the car.

"I didn't want to see the footage afterwards as I was so shocked at what happened."

Phil said there were two other people inside the car, as well as the driver.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We've received a report of steel bars being stolen from Moor Street, Brierley Hill, at around 12.30pm on May 10.

"Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website west-midlands.police.uk and quote 20/450499/22."

The family firm, which was founded in 1996, manufacturers conveyor rollers.

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