The swift reaction of a Grocott's Mail newspaper delivery employee helped a local shop owner get his wallet back after being pickpocketed on Monday afternoon.
The swift reaction of a Grocott's Mail newspaper delivery employee helped a local shop owner get his wallet back after being pickpocketed on Monday afternoon.
Brian Botha, of Grocott's Mail, was walking up High Street when, as he tells it, he was shocked to see a pickpocketing in progress.
According to Botha, he was returning to Grocott's from the Butterfly Snack Bar shortly after 12.30pm, when he saw Chimen Harjeven, the owner of Knight's Shoes, walking a short way ahead of him. Three young men were standing against the window of Lewis Stores. Botha thought he recognised one of the men, but the other two were unfamiliar.
As Botha watched, the three men left the window and approached Harjeven from behind. As two of the men walked alongside Harjeven, the third reached his hand out and removed Harjeven's wallet from his back pocket, Botha said.
Harjeven turned around and saw the man, who fled down the hill, towards Botha. Botha grabbed the man and as he stopped him, he said, the wallet dropped from the man's hand on to the ground.
Botha restrained the man, while Harjeven ran over to retrieve his wallet. Botha then escorted the man – who repeatedly denied that he had done anything – into Knight's Shoes, where Harjeven's guards held him until the police arrived.
The man's partners had initially fled, but returned as part of a small crowd that gathered outside the shoe store, drawn by the commotion.
Harjeven's anger was compounded by the fact that he has been robbed before on this stretch of High Street. Earlier this month robbers took a briefcase with money inside that he was carrying.
The man who he says attempted to rob him on Monday was taken to the police station and awaits charges on one count of theft. The man may not be named until he pleads in court.
