Daylight robbery foiled by shoppers

Craig Warhurst

POLICE are praising good Samaritans who foiled a daylight robbery in Mary Street yesterday afternoon.

Kahlee Randell from Patrick's Casket and News Agency said she didn't see the robbery but saw an older gentleman chase a younger male across the road yelling “stop he's got my money”.

Acting Senior Sergeant Officer-in-Charge of Gympie Police Terry Kennedy said police arrested a Gympie man, 22, on a number of offences after he was sat on and detained by passers-by.

It was alleged he assaulted a man, 60, standing at the Bendigo Bank ATM after the man withdrew a sum of money and then made off with the cash about 12.30pm.

Acting Snr Sgt Kennedy said the alleged offender would appear in court at a later date.

Witnesses said the brave older man chased after the robber shouting, “that's my week's wages”.

Miss Randell said she lost sight of the men shortly after they ran across the road but had heard that the older man and the offender had a scuffle at a near by phone booth.

Then Miss Randell saw the alleged offender run away in the other direction while the older gentleman kept yelling for him to stop.

She said everyone stared and watched as a brave woman, jumped out in front of the offender with her arms out to make sure he wasn't going anywhere.

Other witnesses said the woman was pint sized, blonde and couldn't have weighed more than 50kg.

Both the woman and the older man then tackled the alleged offender to the ground near Amcal Pharmacy and sat on him until police arrived.

About 100 people gathered to watch in amazement and others joined in sitting on the alleged offender, making sure he wouldn't escape.

“It was great how the community jumped in to help the older man,” Miss Randell said.

Although the Bendigo Bank declined to comment, some witnesses said the branch manager was in the thick of it helping to detain the robber.

Another bystander Jodie Kyte said she didn't know the woman who jumped out in front of the offender but she was “amazing and incredibly courageous”.

Acting Senior Sergeant Kennedy said four ladies and two men were sitting on the alleged offender when they arrived.

He said police were very happy the community stepped in and apprehended the alleged robber until police arrived and appealed for any witnesses, who had not given their statements to police, to come forward and call the station on 5480 1111.