Tributes have been paid to “one of the good guys” after a police officer died chasing suspects through Belsize Park.

Det Con Adele Cashman, known to friends as Del Boy, was on duty on Monday night when she was called to the scene of a mugging in Haverstock Hill.

Two men snatched a 59-year-old woman’s phone and tried to escape when they were spotted by two uniformed officers, who radioed for back-up.

Det Con Cashman, of Camden CID, pulled up in Belsize Park Gardens, leaped out of a car and started to run after a teenage suspect. But she collapsed to the ground near SpringHealth Leisure Club at about 9.45pm.

Paramedics and a doctor were called to the scene to treat the 30-year-old officer before she was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. She died at 11.10pm.

Acting Borough Commander Richard Tucker has led the tributes and said her fellow officers were devastated.

He told the Ham&High: “People like Adele made the job interesting and she made a difference every day. She was well travelled, interesting, educated and keen.

“She was fun to be around, but took her job very seriously. She was one of the good guys and she will be sorely missed.”

Flowers have been laid at the spot where she collapsed, along with sympathy cards describing her as a “truly lovely lady”.

One note read: “We are completely heart-broken. You are one in a million and we will miss you to the moon and back.”

Residents from Belsize Park Gardens left a message that read; “Thank you for being brave.”

Met Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “She was out there being brave, getting stuck in and then this great tragedy has happened. It is a terrible loss to everybody who knew her.”

Two 17-year-olds have been charged with theft following the incident and are set to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A police spokesman said there was nothing suspicious about her death. An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday (Wednesday) and a post-mortem proved inconclusive.