The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Would-be watch thief is wrestled to the ground
Man tried to smash way into jewellers with hammer
A would-be armed robber was wrestled to the ground by members of the public after attempting to raid a Glenrothes jewellers.
The man used a hammer to try to smash through the window of Jessops, in the Kingdom Shopping Centre, at lunchtime yesterday.
However, he was foiled by passersby after his efforts to gain access to a number of high-end watches proved unsuccessful.
Store manager Jo-ann Kinnear said: “We are all a little bit shocked but the staff did extremely well and our training for this type of thing paid off.
“We had a customer in the shop at the time and he was shouting at the man through the door.
“Then I think a couple of passersby came to our aid and sat on top of the guy until the police were there.
“I don’t think he had any intention of hurting anybody though.
“I’ve been here for 14 years and nothing like this has ever happened before.”
The incident occurred at around 1pm after a man had been seen lurking outside of the premises in the Lyon Way area of the shopping centre.
After several attempts to smash the window it is understood the perpetrator attempted to flee the scene before he was wrestled to the ground.
Witnesses say that he was also carrying a bag of clothes, with one claiming that the man said he had only been released from prison earlier in the month.
Mrs Kinnear added: “I’m very proud of the staff.
“They did so well and it was a shocking experience for them.
“I would also like to thank our customers who have brought us coffee and cakes since it happened.”
She added that the shop was likely to reopen for business as usual today.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police in Glenrothes responded to a business premises in Lyon Way at around 1.15 pm on Wednesday August 23 following a report of an armed robbery.
“A male has currently been detained in connection with this incident.”