A nearly-naked newly-qualified police officer faced burglars in his boxers in Barnes this morning.
The 29-year-old undie-cover (well, off-duty) police officer stopped four armed burglars in his boxers after he was woken up by a disturbance near his home in Barnes High Street at 3:30am.
The quick-thinking cop realised a jewellers’ shop window had been smashed and that suspects were attempting to break in.
Acting instantly, he ran out into the street in just his underwear – one of the burglars threw a pick axe at him as he ran at the shop front in his y-fronts.
Our unnamed hero said: “I’m glad I was able to intervene in this case…although if it happens again, I hope I have more clothes on!”
The axe narrowly missed the officer from the West Area Command unit and he picked it up and ran at the people to stop them – now armed, but with little armour.
The four suspects managed to escape on mopeds but left behind a number of weapons including a pick-axe, sledgehammer and a chisel.
The shop window was damaged but the suspects did not manage to break in and steal any property.
The policeman, who earned his uniform not long ago, managed to stop the burglary, without it.
He cut his foot on broken glass but was not otherwise injured.
South West Borough Command Unit’s Commander Sally Benatar said: “The bravery of this officer undoubtedly stopped the suspects from stealing anything from the premises.
“He is a brand-new officer, merely days into his role as a PC and he should be very proud of his actions. I have spoken to him today to thank him for his outstanding efforts.
“This morning’s events go to show that police officers are never off-duty and will always go above and beyond to help their community.”
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting CAD 991/31MAY19, or the South West Burglary Team on 07557 313 090, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
