74-year-old Pelham man died after being hit, dragged while trying to stop theft: police

Niagara police believe a74-year-old mandied Friday after interrupting an attemptedtheft at his property in Pelham.

Officers were called to the area of Highway 20 and Cream Street around 2:42 a.m. Friday for a welfare check and say they found Earl Clapp with serious injuries.

He was pronounced deadat the scene.

Detectives sayClappmay have come upon someone trying to steal a trailer from his property on Centre Street just before he was found.

"As a result, the male was struck and dragged by the vehicle as it fled north on Centre Street, then west on Highway 20," reads a media release."The victim was later discovered, deceased, near Cream Street."

Anyone with information or who has video from the area is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police homicide unit.