Would-be robbers 'overly prepared'

An alert security guard chased two thieves and sat on them until police arrived. Herman Sakaria used his unusual restraint method after an attempted robbery in New Zealand on Tuesday. The Whangaparaoa-based security guard was heading home when he saw two youths covering their car plates.

The Pride Security company director says the two 16-year-olds then put clear plastic bags over their faces, and socks over their shoes, before running into the Bay View Store in Stanmore Bay armed with steak knives. "The boys had obviously been watching too many crime movies because they were overly prepared," he says.

Mr Sakaria parked behind their vehicle and approached the dairy, where police say one of the youths remained at the entrance while the other demanded cash. But the male owner repelled the attacker and chased both youths out of his store, where Mr Sakaria intercepted them. "I grabbed them, disarmed them and took them to the ground, restraining them until police arrived," he says.



A Korean man and woman came out after the youths. "The woman started hitting them with a flyswat she was so angry," says Mr Sakaria. By sheer coincidence Mr Sakaria says the mother of one of the youths turned up. "The youth said: ‘Oh s#%t, there’s my mum’."

Rodney police are applauding Mr Sakaria’s quick thinking and actions. "It was a ridiculous attempt," Mr Sakaria says. "The silly season really has started."

The youths were to appear in the North Shore District Court this week charged with assault with intent to rob, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.