Leamington have-a-go heroes tackle burglars

Matt Crowley was upstairs at the Fox and Vivian pub on the corner of Clarendon Avenue and Chandos Street last Thursday at about 10.45pm when he heard a front window of Alexander James hairdressers next door being smashed.

The pub owner, bar manager Dave Rollins and patron David Stacey rushed outside to find that two men had used a kerbstone to break into the premises and had loaded bags with GHD hair straighteners worth more than £1,000 in total.

Mr Crowley said: “There wasn’t even time to think. I got to the shop door and they were there looking at me.

“They were both wearing balaclavas and they had bags full of loot.

“One of the lads got away but Dave chased him all the way down the road and full-on rugby tackled him.

“I was concerned the guy left in the shop had a knife so I picked up the stone and I was going mad just to keep him away from me.

“I didn’t want to let him go because it’s a neighbour’s business and they are part of our community.”

The skirmish lasted between ten and 15 minutes with Mr Rollins, who has played as a flanker for Old Leamingtonians Rugby Club, and Mr Crowley keeping the burglars detained while Mr Stacey moved from one friend to the other to make sure neither was harmed.

Police officers arrived, bringing police dogs with them, and arrested the burglars.

Mr Crowley said: “I was worried with all the police outside it would look bad on the pub while we were actually doing something positive.

“They obviously thought they could take what they wanted and we feel good about what we have done.

“The police said if everybody did what we did their jobs would be easier.

“But it wasn’t about being able to gloat it was about doing what is right.”

Alexander James, the owner of the hairdressers, has been left counting the cost of a new window and replacing the stock that was damaged or lost in the burglary.

But he has thanked the three men for their efforts.

Mr James said: “It’s nice in as much as the burglars got caught and morality prevailed.

“It is good for the morale of people in Leamington for them to know that there are people who are prepared to have a go and not just stand back and observe.

“With the current climate of looters and robbers it is one in the eye for them.”