Moment passersby ‘try to stop machete-wielding thugs robbing jewellers’
This is the moment passers-by used garden brooms and saws to stop a gang of machete-wielding thugs from robbing a jewelery shop.
Four men dressed in black and motorcycle helmets raided a Turkish gold shop in Green Lanes, north London, on Tuesday morning, but brave locals fought back as they fled with their loot.
Footage taken by a viewer shows two motorcycles standing on the pavement outside the shop and one of them screaming continuously.
Two of the group remain outside, one sitting on a bike and the other patrolling the pavement, brandishing a huge machete to thwart any interference.
However, one of the passersby confronts the guard with a wooden broom in his hand, charges towards him and defends himself against the wild blows of the knife by using the handle.
The other two exit the store, apparently clutching large shopping bags filled with stolen goods, and hop on their bikes; Meanwhile, a man shouts ‘thieves’ loudly.
Both bikes start, but one of the rear passengers stumbles and struggles to get on the bike; This gives the public another opportunity to attack.
A machete-wielding bandit confronts a man with a broom on the far right, then attacks him
As the group tries to escape, one of the gang wildly hits another person who took the broom
A man runs across the road with a saw to stop the gang from escaping
Some throw bottles to try to knock him off the getaway vehicle.
Another man, armed with a broom, chases him, while another man runs along the road, waving his saw at the staggering thief.
Police went to the scene upon reports of armed robbery but did not make any arrests.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Mail: ‘Police were called at 10.04am on Tuesday, February 24, to reports of an armed robbery at a shop in Green Lanes, Islington.
‘During the incident, some citizens tried to prevent the suspects from escaping. No injuries were reported.
‘Officers attended the scene at 10:08am and inquiries are ongoing; officers are working quickly to secure evidence and identify suspects. No arrests have been made at this stage.
‘Anyone with information should call 101 quoting CAD 2319/24Feb or contact Crimestoppers to remain anonymous on 0800 555 111.’
