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The bravest OAP: As everyone else watches, an elderly man foils jewellery raid by unmasking hammer-wielding hoodie
By Danny Brierley

Last updated at 12:04 PM on 31st October 2008
A gutsy poppy-wearing pensioner foiled a raid on a jewellery shop when he ripped the balaclava off a hoodie wielding a sledgehammer.

The elderly man wrestled the robber and unmasked him, shocking the offender and his accomplice so much that they discarded their weapons and fled empty-handed.

The man, who appeared to be in his 70s or 80s, was the only person who intervened despite a crowd of 50 onlookers standing by.

The have-a-go hero moved forward as the two attackers pounded the reinforced windows of the Richmond branch of Ernest Jones up to 20 times yesterday afternoon in the busy shopping area of George Street.

Witnesses said the pair were so stunned by the intervention they ran off. The pensioner then smiled at the crowd before casually getting on the bus.

Nick Thompson, a 35-year-old IT technician who watched the drama from his office opposite the shop, said: 'He just walked up to one of them, grabbed his shoulder, put his other hand on top of the balaclava and pulled it back from his face.

'I thought it was brilliant that someone in this day and age can still have the guts to take on someone much younger and bigger. Heroes like that don't think twice about these things.

'There must have been about 40 to 50 people watching but he was the only one who thought, "Hang on a minute, I'm not putting up with this." We were all amazed he had the guts to do it.'

The man is now being hailed as a reluctant hero after stopping the men from getting away with any valuables.
'It was like he was pleased with himself,' Mr Thompson added. 'He gave this great little smile and then walked away to catch his bus. He must have known it was about to come and didn't want to miss it.'

Police are investigating the incident and trying to trace the two men - as well as the pensioner. He was wearing a beige raincoat with a poppy, brown trousers and carrying a bag over one shoulder.

It is thought he could be a veteran of the forces but no one got a chance to find out because as soon after the robbers escaped, he simply smiled at the crowd, before walking to a nearby stop and boarding a bus.

Mr Thompson's brother Murray, who also witnessed the raid, said: 'I wish I'd been a bit more reactive and I'm put to shame by what an 80-year-old did.'

A police source said: 'While it is always welcome when acts of bravery are successful there is always the possibility that they will go wrong and we urge people to call the police immediately to deal with these type of situations.'

Scotland Yard said the suspects ran off in the direction of Brewer's Lane and got into a silver-coloured car which drove off in the direction of Richmond Magistrates' Court.

Anyone with information should contact Richmond CID on 0208 247 7142.