Sneak thief feels the strong arm of law firms partners ; ;Partners at a Yorkshire law firm chased a man suspected of stealing from its offices down the street last week, following a spate of thefts targeted at law offices. ;Mark Jefferies, a partner at Whitby firm Thorpe & Co, said they were alerted by articles in local newspapers and the Gazette about a thief who claimed he was carrying out a fire extinguisher inspection (see [2000] Gazette, 9 November, 4). ;It is believed he was targeting law firms offices around the country. ;Mr Jefferies said police were called by partner Carl Burnett. When they arrived, senior partner Fred Richardsons wallet was missing, and a man was heading down the street. After a short chase, a man was arrested by the police. ;Mr Jefferies said the thief could have run faster if hed taken my ;wallet. ;Sue Allen ; ; ;