Pensioner foils smash and grab raid at jeweller's

As two hooded raiders attempted to smash their way into a London jeweller's, 50 onlookers watched in shock. But one 84-year-old man was not content to be a passive bystander.

The poppy-wearing pensioner approached the sledgehammer-wielding pair and removed one of their balaclavas, causing them both to flee. The man, named locally as William Grove, then casually walked off to catch his bus. As he departed, he shouted: "I've got your DNA."

The incident happened on Thursday afternoon outside a branch of Ernest Jones in George Street, Richmond, south-west London.

Nick Thompson, a 35-year-old IT technician, saw the drama from his office. He said: "It was brilliant that someone can still have the guts to take on someone much younger and bigger. There must have been about 40 or 50 people watching but he was the only one who thought, 'I'm not putting up with this'. We were all amazed."

The would-be robbers had pounded on the store's windows up to 20 times before the old man intervened.

Afterwards they ran away, dropping their sledgehammers, and escaped in a silver Vauxhall coupé. Meanwhile, the OAP, now smiling, went for his bus.

Police said the suspects are two young black men, possibly between 18 and 20. Detective Inspector Dave Wadsworth of Richmond CID said: "While taking nothing away from the bravery of the individual, we advise members of the public not to approach suspects but to contact police."