Cafe diners pounce on alleged robber

Cafe diners have tackled an alleged thief to the ground after he tried to escape a robbery at a building society this morning.

Cafe diners have tackled an alleged thief to the ground after he tried to escape a robbery at a Milton building society this morning. Picture: Kubilay Kocak

Cafe diners have tackled an alleged thief to the ground after he tried to escape a robbery at a Milton building society this morning.

Police said the man entered The Rock Building Society on Park Road about 10.30am today and jumped on the counter, demanding money from staff.

The man was not armed but had a bandana covering his face.

Once inside, police said the man made threats to the staff and demanded money. They gave him some money and he left.

Michael Lappin, from Alexandra Headland, and Chris Ngaha, from Sippy Downs, ran from nearby cafes to intervene.

Mr Lappin ran over and hid behind a wall next to the bank door. He waited for the alleged thief to come out and then crash-tackled him to the ground within just 10 metres.

Mr Ngaha and friends, Eric and Benny, also jumped on the suspect 'like a crocodile'.

Mr Ngaha's partner Elise Conquest searched the man and grabbed the money bag, which she estimated contained less than $1000. She returned the bag to the bank manager.

The four men "sat on" the suspect, holding him for 10 minutes until police arrived.

Witness Kubilay Kocak, who was on a coffee break, said he saw one of the guys rushing across the road to outside the shoe store and jump on the alleged robber.

"Two or three of them then tackled him to the ground,'' Kubilay said.

He said the police arrived about 10 minutes later and handcuffed him. "The bloke was screaming.

"He has popped his shoulder or something (with the weight of police on him).''

"It was pretty chaotic.''

Police said the cause of the robbery suspect's injury would be investigated.

While lauding the diners for their bravery and quick thinking, police said such actions were not always appropriate, especially if the offender had been armed.

Originally published as Cafe diners pounce on alleged robber