Queensland Police have arrested and charged three men after a failed attempt at a robbery at a jewellery store in Westfield Coomera on the Gold Coast on Friday afternoon.
The trio allegedly arrived at the shopping centre in a vehicle around 5pm. Two men then attempted to smash a glass cabinet at a jewellery store using a tyre iron.
The plot was foiled, however, when two barbers observed the robbery and decided to intervene.
"One of my mates, who's also my colleague Kai, he was just cutting hair, he looks at me, and he's like, 'oh should we go and stand in and help out with it?'," barber Te Kohu Niwha told 9News.
"I ran in, bowled them over as well. I think it was more of like bravery and foolishness at the the same time. We wanted to sort of be the heroes in the story, but at the same time, we're not just going to turn a blind eye."
The two men then allegedly fled the scene on foot without any items. The vehicle was intercepted by police a short time later, with the three occupants arrested and later charged.
A group of shoppers assisted in the ‘citizens’ arrest in the wrestle with the thieves. Brendan Dunleavy described the scene for The Courier Mail.
“They got about a half dozen whacks in each before a few teenagers and adults ran from the barbers right next door and tackled them to the ground a few punches were exchanged from both parties,” he explained.
“By the time the two got out of the scuffle there was already 5-10 myself included members of the public forming a barricade between them and the shop. The two ran off towards the Costco car park [and] a few members of [the] public gave chase.”
A 24-year-old man has been charged with driving without a licence, evasion offence in company, wilful damage, and entering premises with intent to commit indictable offence.
A 23-year-old and a 26-year-old have both been charged with one count of wilful damage and entering premises with intent to commit an indictable offence.
WATCH VIDEO
More reading
Jewellery retailers warned about elaborate crime spree
Jewellery industry represented in New Zealand crime advisory group
Harsher penalties for crimes against retail employees, jewellery store staff
Turning point: Sentence handed down for high-profile jewellery store robbery
Mystery surrounding Canadian gold heist continues
Enough is enough: New Zealand retailers demand help
Luxury retailer raided by thieves twice in six months