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One New York City resident is being hailed as a hero after taking matters into his own hands to stop an armed robbery crew.
The robbers had struck at least four times on Tuesday before the Good Samaritan decided he’d had enough.
Police say the man, who has not been identified, was able to grab one of the robbers’ guns and send them running.
The incident was captured on surveillance video.
The would-be victim can walk down the street when the motorcycle pulls up next to him. One of the riders gets off the bike, points a gun at the man’s head, and demands his property.
But instead of giving in, the man grabs the gun and struggles with the robber. The rest of the crew tries to intervene, but the man is able to keep hold of the weapon.
Finally, the robbers give up and flee the scene empty-handed.
The man was not injured during the encounter. It’s not clear if any arrests have been made.
The NYPD praises the man’s actions, saying he “displayed great courage.”
“It’s very tough. They’ve hit so many times. It’s like they hit five, six, and seven times a day. They’re just scooting all over, and they’re in and out of traffic, and they’re flying all over. It’s tough to follow. They ride up on the sidewalk with a weapon – a gun, threatened with a gun. Thank God we haven’t had anyone shot in this incident.
“The gun was recovered in the last incident, where people were fighting back, and we retained the gun. Everyone in the store got on the ground. All I know is they wanted his chain.”
“He took the gun away and pointed it at the perp, who then got back on his motorcycle and drove away,” one police source told the New York Post. “The guy was definitely brave.”
This is just the latest in a string of violent crimes in New York City, which has seen a significant uptick in shootings and murders this year.
In 2020, there were more than 1,400 shootings in the city, an increase of nearly 60% compared to last year. Murders are also up by about 21%.
Then-New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was criticized for handling the crime wave, with many accusing him of being too soft on criminals.
But the mayor insists that the NYPD is making progress in combating the rise in violence.
“We have a lot more work to do, but we are bringing down crime,” de Blasio said earlier this month. “We are doing it the right way, with community policing, with building trust.”
Meanwhile, the Good Samaritan who stopped the robbers is being praised as a hero.
“This is what we need more of in our city,” one social media user wrote. “People taking back their city from criminals.”
“This is what a real man does,” another person commented. “He stands up for himself and others.”
“We need more people like this in our city,” one Twitter user said. “This is what makes New York great.”
