Black belt shopper in heels karate kicks armed robber
Credit: Facebook/officialwadokaiengland
A black belt shopper wearing heels stopped an armed robbery at a convenience store by karate kicking the assailant.
Wadokai karate enthusiast Mairi Kerin, 42, hit and kicked the man after he told a shopkeeper he was there “to take your money”.
It would later emerge the man was armed with a knife and a firearm.
CCTV footage showed him lift a black bag towards the shop worker.
In a split-second manoeuvre, Ms Kerin grabbed his arm and aimed a kick at his shin.
He ran for the door as Ms Kerin followed close behind.
Ms Kerin has now been given a police chief superintendent commendation award by West Mercia Police.
Bad back, no problem
On the day of the robbery, Ms Kerin said she had a bad back and sore feet from a new pair of heeled boots.
“I had a bit of a bad back so I was quite slow and as I got out of the car I noticed this person all covered up and thought: ‘You look like you’re going to rob a shop’.
“I remember telling myself you can’t think that about people, can’t pigeonhole people like that. I thought that maybe he’s just got a bike somewhere, he’s been out riding or whatever.”
Ms Kerin was standing at the counter when the man entered the shop and confronted the worker.
She added: “I thought something was a little off. I heard the shopkeeper ask ‘why did you put something against the door?’ and I heard him reply, ‘because I’m going to take your money’. He said it really cool, really calm.
“I had been getting ready to pay, so I put my phone and my keys away and then it all happened really quickly.
“He stepped forward. I could see his pockets were full and I thought he had weapons, my eyes were glued to his pockets. I just thought if I was going to wait for whatever it was that was coming out, it would be too late. When I saw his left hand still in his pocket I took the chance.
“I just grabbed his arm and kicked him in the shins. We would later find out a knife and a firearm were involved, but whatever was in the left pocket, for that moment it was not coming out.”
The incident was part of several burglaries across Telford that week, police claimed.
Jordan Hickman, 29, Jake Jones, 21, and an 18-year-old who could not be named for legal reasons were jailed for a combined total of 18 years for their involvement.
Chief Superintendent Edd Williams said: “It was my pleasure to award Mairi with her bravery award. Her quick thinking meant that no one was harmed during this attempted robbery and no money or goods were stolen.”
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