Shoppers hold robber

A group of shoppers intervened in a violent robbery in Timaru pharmacy yesterday, detaining the thief until police arrived. Police praised the actions of several people in the pharmacy who apprehended the offender during the attempted robbery. “The members of the public who came to the assistance of the frightened pharmacy staff acted courageously,” Sergeant Kevin McErlain said. “In general we don’t encourage people to take unnecessary risks but we appreciate in this instance they acted instinctively to detain the offender until we got there.” A 51-year-old man was charged with aggravated robbery.