Caught up in arm robbery!!! Kid you not!

Now, This isn't a travel story, but what actually happen last monday to me and a work mate on the way back to his place for a few beers. Simon my english work buddy and I were walking back through the valley mall roughly about 815pm on monday the 19th of sept. When in the middle of the valley mall, we heard the sounds of plates and chairs crashing and smashing. Both of us looked to our left and saw guy assaulting a cafe worker.

He'd had her by the throat and was pulling cash out of the till, while trying to run away with her screaming out "help me" "help!!!" while trying to stop the guy from running.. At first I thought the guy was refusing to pay for his meal and was doing a run.. Then it became clear it was much, much more..

He pushed off the woman and raced out the door towards ann's street towards a bar/club named belushi's, while the woman was screaming "someone help.. stop him." I turned to simon and said, come-on lets get him.. Now this was simons last night in brisbane and was flying to cairns, then asia, before heading home to the Uk.. both of us were heading back to his place to have a few beers with his girlfriend and see him off on his last night in brissie. (both of them are poms) when all this just unfolded right in front of us. Simon said, if we'd been 30seconds earlier or later we'd have missed it and thought nothing more of it. Anyway, back to the events. We gave chase for the guy and intersected him, with me shouting out in a classic line.. "Stop" natually, the guy didn't.. I told simon, to follow him while I headed back to the cafe too see w-t-f actually happen!!!

Went back to the cafe, woman told me the guy had just lepted over the counter grabbed her by the throat, stuck a pair of scissors to her neck and demanded she open the till or he would stab her.. naturally, she was shook up. So I raced off back to simon to find the crook had run down an alley behind the cafe.. So I again told simon, to just hold here, while I ran around to the front of the cafe and told them he was out the back, in the alley.. The chef hearing this grabbed the biggest thing he could and charged out the back. I then ran back around to simon, to find they had flushed the guy out and he'd ran down the street further away!

I told the chef and simon lets go and find him. So we marched off.. knowning he had turned down a 2nd dead end alley. We began searching the area, with me grabing doors to toilets and kicking them open, while quickly preparing myself for trouble! After about 10-15mins, simon said" he's most likely climbed one of the walls and got away". I said, I bet he's under one of these 4wd's cars. So I half hearted looked from the back end while the chef move to the front of the cars.. Suddenly, the chef yelled, the dirty dogs under this one and out he came.. right at me.. with ten dollar note in his hand.. I loooked at the money in his hand an laughed, mate you've got more then that. He dropped the 10 bucks and half swang at me.. I blocked his punch and then grabbed his arm... while he then tried to punch me with his other arm.. I grasped his 2nd arm locking both of them in my own hands.. asking him to calm down and hand over the money.

Now this guy, looked like a james bond villian.. He had a bald shaven head, with razor scars all over his face and deep scars at that.. he looked like he must be blind in one eye as well. In his hand was a bag of pills and a bit more cash.

So here is where we stood, Me holding onto this guys 2 arms.. looking at simon who'd had a large rock in his hand ready to throw at anyone who came close (haha) and the chef a bit shaken up.. pacing around. I said to the chef, what do you want me to do with him? The chef kept saying, dam dirty dog.. how could you!? I asked him again an the chef said, he just wanted his money back! So There I was holding the crook by the arms while the chef grabbed cash out of his pockets an wallet, with simon standing back with a large rock.. Now if any person had walked by and looked down the alley, it would have looked like we were robbing this guy! I asked the chef, when he got his money back, what he wanted me to do? He said "let him go, I just want my money!" Now the chef was a bit shook up.. but not wantting to have to deal with holding onto this guy anymore I let him go an we began to walk away, before leaving I told the guy, what, do you want to end up in prision, you idiot? He said, he'd already been! An before leaving his taunting us that he still had another $150 bucks on him!

So we all walked back to the cafe, where I came my full name and mobile number.. We left.. as we were walking up the road, cop cars came from everywhere with lights flushing etc.. we walked off had a few beers, then the cops called me and then they came and took us to the police station for interview and to give a statement.

A few days later, in the courier mail.. the local brisbane paper. A 300-400 word report with a pic of the chef appeared in the crime report section. Now, the story reported was the chef almost single handly had taken down the bad dood.. reading the entire story, I found at the very end, that we got a mention.. it was something like.. "An some other guys helped" Talk about a laugh! It was like we'd just beeen standing there clapping! So a few days later I walked into the cafe.. to see if the guy would say thanks for that, or offer me a free drink or just a pat on the back! Hell first shout of beer at the local pub would have done.. What happen? Nothin.. not a thing! I'm not glory hound. but fair suck of the sav mate!

Talk about life throwing you a curve ball?

All the best simon on ya travels home mate! An all the best too your lovely lady!