Robber held by passers-by in Hove (From The Argus)

Robber held by passers-by in Hove

8:00am Friday 22nd May 2009 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter

Antones Siluvairajah shows off his injuries

A robber was held inside an off licence before being pinned to the ground by passers-by in a bungled raid.

Shopkeeper Antones Siluvairajah held the door to Portland Groceries, in Portland Road, Hove, also known as Mulberry Stores, closed while bleeding heavily after being hit over the head with a bottle.

Passers-by and customers from the neighbouring Jamaica Inn pub leapt to his aid, wrestling the man to the ground and holding him until police arrived.

Mr Siluvairajah, 40, said the man waited for other customers to leave before grabbing a bottle of cider from the shelf and launching his attack, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

He said: "He didn't buy anything, he didn't take anything, he just stood there looking at me.

"He waited until the other customers went out then came to the counter. He grabbed for a bottle of Bulmers then hit me with it on the head.

“He hit me once with the bottle really hard and it smashed. The glass shattered.

“I was then a bit shocked and he came around the till and said 'give me the money'.

“I managed to push him and ran out as he was trying to get the money from the till. Then I was holding the door to not let him out.

“Then someone passing by saw me bleeding heavily.

“He tried to open the door and tried to come out.

“I pushed him on the floor and held him, then the other guy and all the locals from the pub all came and held him until the police came.”

At one point about 20 people were helping to restrain the robber, who grabbed an unknown amount of cash, and Mr Siluvairajah praised the heroic customers of the Jamaica Inn regulars.

He said: “The community round here is so good.

“It's really good to know there are people like that who will jump in to help you.

“One guy jumped over the balcony from the flats to help.”

Jamaica Inn landlord Stacey Elderforrest said: “Everyone knows each other and it's a really good community, so the locals wouldn't just stand by and watch that happen.”

Detective Constable Stewart Cameron said a 35-year-old man was in police custody last night after being arrested on suspicion of robbery.

He said: “Members of the public assisted in his capture and detention until police arrived.”