Adam in sole charge

BY DAVID TAURANGA

A would-be robber has been nabbed by police thanks to the brave efforts of a Papakura New World staff member - and his shoe.

Deli worker Adam Campbell, 17, showed his mettle last Thursday when he helped police catch a man who had robbed Aladdin’s Thai Treasure store on Great South Rd.

The teenager tracked the man to an address on Sediment Rd and then helped police physically apprehend him by throwing his shoe at the back of his head.

Working alone in the store during the robbery was Marina Lee, who says she was closing up when she noticed a man hanging around the front of the shop.

She had just locked the front door and was going to the store’s staffroom when suddenly the man appeared at the back door.

"The man burst in, grabbed me and punched me in the face. He was screaming at me to give him money.

"I took him to the cash register and opened it but then he demanded more. He took me to the back of the store and punched me again in the chest.

"I was so frightened I thought I was going to die – it was so scary."

Ms Lee managed to break free of the attacker and sprinted out the back door and across the carpark to New World.

Her cries for help were answered by the super-
market’s staff and customers who came to her aid
and called for an ambulance.

While she was being cared for, Ms Lee saw her attacker casually walking away in the direction of Central Park.

"I was pointing and saying: ‘That’s him, that’s the man who robbed me’," Ms Lee says.

By that stage many of the supermarket’s staff were in the carpark, including Adam.

When he saw how upset and angry Ms Lee was he couldn’t stand idly by.

"I was also a bit angry because Marina didn’t do anything to deserve being punched and robbed," Adam says.

"She pointed which way he went so I took off my shoes and just started running after him.

"I reached Central Park and was looking around when I saw two guys, one
of them matching the
description Marina gave."

From the park the two men headed to Sediment Rd with Adam and a New World customer hot on their heels.

When the two men went down the side of a house Adam and the customer called police, who arrived shortly after and caught the robber. His accomplice managed to escape.

But the robber wasn’t going to be taken easily and resisted arrest the whole time, Adam says.

"They were forced to pepper-spray him but then he managed to break free and took off again. I didn’t think, I just started chasing him again.

"I was still carrying my shoes and threw one which hit him in the back of the head and slowed him down enough for the police to catch him again."

Adam says he’s proud
his actions helped to cap-ture the robber and he’s pleased he was able to help Ms Lee.

If he ever found himself in a similar situation he would do it all again "in a heartbeat".

Ms Lee says she’s pleased the robber was caught and she has thanked Adam for his brave actions.

She has also thanked everyone who cared for her in the carpark, especially the couple who provided first aid and helped to calm her down.

"Thank you all – so many people came to my aid
and helped me and your actions are just so appreciated."

- © Fairfax NZ News