Have-a-go heroes attempt to stop jewellery raid
A gang of jewellery shop robbers were almost stopped in their tracks by a group of people throwing stones and bricks at them.
Half a dozen members of the public charged up to a car involved in the jewellery heist on Smethwick High Street.
Stones and bricks were then thrown through open doors and windows of the car before it was driven off from the scene.
Mobile phone footage of the incident has been uploaded to social.
It followed the raid on Naresh Jewellers on Friday just before 6.30pm.
A quantity of jewellery was taken in the robbery, which is now being investigated by West Midlands Police.
The footage shows three men fleeing from the shop, before getting in an Audi S3.
Despite the attempts to stop them leaving, the trio got away.
One man, who works at a nearby chip shop, said: “Someone came in and said: ‘The jewellers is being robbed’.
"I went straight outside and saw a group of men running away from the shop.
“They had knives and machetes and about three bags of stuff they had stolen.
“There was a whole load of us who all piled in and tried to stop them.
“They got in the car so we picked up bricks and stones and threw them.
“The car was damaged but they still managed to get away.”
West Midlands Police confirmed officers were investigating the incident.
A spokeswoman said: “We are investigating a robbery which occurred on Friday at around 6.20pm at a jewellers on the High Street in Smethwick.
“A quantity of jewellery was stolen during the robbery.
“An investigation is underway and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
