Boro-born TV star Chris Kamara catches a crook in Brazil

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Middlesbrough-born Chris Kamara captures a street robber in Brazil

Gallery: Sky Sports TV presenter Chris Kamara catches a crook in Brazil

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BORO-born ex-footballer Chris Kamara took a break from TV punditry to turn crimefighter when he nabbed a street robber in Brazil.

The much-loved Sky Sports presenter leapt into action after witnessing the wrongdoing in Rio de Janeiro, where he is holidaying for the World Cup.

After chasing down and apprehending the alleged criminal the 56-year-old joked on his Twitter page: “Not lost me pace!!! I just caught this street robber. Done in now though.”

Kamara, famed for missing red cards while reporting for Sky Sports, even tweeted photos of the man handcuffed with his head covered by a t-shirt, saying: “Still waiting after my prize catch.”

But the TV star went on to joke that his “good deed has back fired” as he then had to go to the police station to make a statement.

He tweeted on: “Have to go to the station to write it down!!!! I am on me holidays.

“Giving my statement now, ‘well I ran after him & caught him’.”

Other photos show Kamara chatting to uniformed police officers while the suspect is led away.

His crimefighting exploits have become an instant internet hit, with thousands of Twitter followers retweeting his catch.

Previous to his one-man clean-up of the mean streets, Kamara was chilling on Rio’s Copacabana beach and tweeting pictures of beach volleyball girls.

“Good view of the sea from here, haha,” he quipped.

A lifelong Boro fan Kamara played a handful of games for the club in the early 1990s.

He’s also a close friend of Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson, who shares a Park End upbringing.

While at the World Cup the former Swindon, Brentford and Luton Town player’s regular updates of his travels have proven far more entertaining than many of the group stage matches.

Street crime in Brazil is a big problem and muggings are a regular occurrence.