Hero homeless man, 34, who tackled axe-wielding jewellery thief hands back £10,000 loot

Hero homeless man, 34, who tackled axe-wielding jewellery thief hands back £10,000 loot to storeowner

  • Anthony Porter witnessed two men ride up to Cash Generator, Grimsby 
  • Mr Porter, who has been homeless for 15 years, helped pin down one of the yobs 
  • Owner of the store said Mr Porter’s extraordinary feat ‘doesn’t surprise’ him

A homeless man tackled an axe-wielding jewellery thief before handing back the loot worth £10,000.

Anthony Porter witnessed two men ride up to Cash Generator, Grimsby on a scrambler bike before the bust the window through with the axe. 

The 34-year-old, who has been homeless for 15 years, helped pin down one of the yobs before handing back the expensive golden items to the pawn store owner.

Homeless man Anthony Porter who helped catch a suspected robber at the Cash Generator store

David James, the owner of the store whose sons also tackled the theif, said Mr Porter’s extraordinary feat ‘doesn’t surprise’ him. 

He told the Sun Online: ‘We’ve known him for years, we charge his phone for him and when it’s cold we buy him hot drinks.

‘It doesn’t surprise me what he did at all.

CCTV still of staff (closest to camera) from the Cash Generator store tackling a thief 

CCTV still of staff (closest to camera) from the Cash Generator store tackling a thief 

The Cash Generator store on Victoria Street in Grimsby, which was the target of the robbery

The Cash Generator store on Victoria Street in Grimsby, which was the target of the robbery

‘When he saw Jack and Alfie run after the man with the axe, he was coming to help them.

‘He just saw a piece of gold and said ‘Jack, this is yours?’ – it didn’t surprise me at all.’

CCTV footage shows the thief, who managed to grab several gold items, being warded off by the shop staff, who are also the manager’s sons. 

As the yob is battering the window, one shop worker challenges him before he threatens him with the axe. 

Seconds later, the other son runs out of the shop waving a hammer at the attacker who runs off.  

The hero, who previously ran his own gardening business, told Grimsby Live: ‘As soon as I heard the first bang with the axe on the window I went for him and pulled off his balaclava.’

David James, owner of the Cash Generator store on Victoria Street in Grimsby, Lincolnshire

David James, owner of the Cash Generator store on Victoria Street in Grimsby, Lincolnshire

‘I picked up the gold bracelets and other gold and passed it back to the staff, all of it. I need money. But I don’t worship money. It is other people’s God, not mine.

‘I clear rubbish from the street and I have been homeless for 15 years, but I don’t take from others.’

The robbery happened in the morning of February 6, and police confirmed on Wednesday a 40-year-old man was arrested. 

 

 

 

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