Adele Cashman: Female detective collapses and dies while chasing phone thief

Detective Constable Adele Cashman was chasing a suspect after a smartphone was snatched from a woman when she collapsed
She died in hospital a short time later
Two 17-year-old boys were arrested and the phone recovered

PUBLISHED: 07:26 EST, 6 November 2012 | UPDATED: 08:21 EST, 6 November 2012

In pursuit: Detective Constable Adele Cashman collapsed while chasing a teenage phone thief yesterday

A female detective has died after she collapsed while chasing a teenage phone thief.

Detective Constable Adele Cashman, 30, was in pursuit of a suspect just moments after a smartphone was snatched from a 59-year-old woman in Haverstock Hill, Camden when she collapsed at 9.45pm yesterday.

The much loved and wholly dedicated police officer collapsed in Belsize Park Gardens, Camden, and died in Royal Free Hospital, in Hampstead, London a short time later.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested at the junction of Belsize Grove and a second boy, also 17, was also arrested and a phone recovered, Scotland Yard said.

The suspects remain in custody at north and central London police stations.

Uniformed officers on duty in the area saw the chase and had joined Det Con Cashman and had requested more help when the incident occurred.

Det Con Cashman was part of a response team based at Kentish Town police station.

Commander Tony Eastaugh said: The thoughts of everyone in the Metropolitan Police Service are very much with Adele's family, friends and col! leagues at this extremely difficult time.

Adele worked on both Camden and Wandsworth boroughs and was held in high regard by all who met her. She will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of working alongside her.

Police chase: Det Con Cashman was chasing a 17-year-old boy moments after a smartphone was snatched from a woman in Haverstock Hill

Det Cashman died in Royal Free Hospital (pictured) a short time after she collapsed last night

'Much loved': Det Con Cashman died in Royal Free Hospital (pictured) a short time after she collapsed last night

Acting Borough Commander Richard Tucker, from Camden Police, said: Adele was a much-loved and wholly dedicated officer.

We at Camden are completely devastated at her sudden passing and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this tragically sad time.

'Held in high regard': Det Con Cashman was part of a response team based at Kentish Town police station (pictured) when she collapsed

A post-mortem examination will take place today.

Residents who lived near the scene of the incident spoke of their shock at the death.

One, who lives opposite the scene in leafy Belsize Park and asked not to be named, said: The first I heard was when the police came round at around 11pm last night to ask questions.

Another, who ! lives in ! a flat up the road, said: The only thing I heard last night was fireworks.

There was a knock at the door from police but I couldn't tell them anything.

They were very vague about what had happened.

It's usually so quiet round here so you would expect to hear something.

A forensics tent stood over the scene where the police officer collapsed as police awaited a search team to arrive.

Several police officers were stationed near the scene on Belsize Park Gardens with a large section of road cordoned off.

Det Cashman joined the force in 2006 and was stationed at Wandsworth Borough, where she worked as a police constable. She then transferred to Camden in 2010 as a detective.