Hero in undies hauls in robber

DONNA PAGET/Waikato Times

UNDIE-NIABLE HEROISM: George Tuau, clad only in his boxer shorts, nabbed a man who robbed a Hamilton petrol station and made him sit on the forecourt until police arrived.

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A neighbour wearing boxer shorts gave chase and caught an alleged armed robber who held up a Hamilton service station early today.

The man pinned down the alleged offender and waited for police to arrive.

The incident happened just after 1am today. Moments before, the Mobil on Avalon Dr was robbed of cash and cigarettes.

One witness said the man sprinted from across the road in his boxer shorts and tackled one of three alleged offenders. The three men, described as Maori, smashed their way through the front glass plate window of the service station after demanding cash and cigarettes at the night service window.

Hamilton City area commander Inspector Rob Lindsay said the sole attendant locked himself in the office and called police. The men escaped with several packets of cigarettes, tobacco and cash from two tills.

However, one man was nabbed by the neighbour behind the petrol station and was made to sit on the forecourt until police arrived.

Another neighbour, Jim Pain, said he was woken by the noise. "The guy from across the road was in his red boxer shorts and trying to apprehend the guy from behind the gas station. By the time I got there he had the guy sitting out the front."

Mr Lindsay said they would normally advise caution in these situations, but police would look at recognising "his actions in a more formal manner".

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