Would be thieves sent packing by have-a-go gran

AHAVE-A-GO granny has told how she tackled thieves attempting to steal a cash box from her fancy dress shop.

CCTV footage taken from inside The Stage Door in Stockport captured shop owner Johanna Walsh stop the two men in their tracks as she suspected them of trying to steal the box.

Ms Walsh, 70, also known as Pat, first suspected something unusual was going on when a shopper stood very close to the counter and started talking to her.

She then noticed another man suddenly emerge from the back of the shop and walk towards the exit.

The pensioner confronted the brazen thieves and asked to show her what was inside their bag.

She then tackled one of the men and wrenched his arm until he gave in and handed the box back over.

Both of the men fled from the shop empty handed.

Ms Walsh said: “I didn’t think about it. It was afterwards I was shaking.

“I just went up to them and said ‘Can I look in your bag?’ and I noticed the cash box, flung him around and they just walked off. They both stunk of alcohol.

“I didn’t understand why they didn’t take the money and just leave the cash box.”

Ms Walsh, who has been running the shop in the town centre since 1971, is appealing to the public to get in touch if they recognise the men in the video.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident took place on Friday, July 3 at 4.30pm.

Officers investigating the CCTV footage and took fingerprints from the scene.

The spokesman

said: challenge offenders in that way and to call police straight away.”

The men are described as in their late 30s, with one man wearing a baseball cap and the other had sunglasses on his head.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.