A mystery hero who foiled a jewellery robbery in Wimbledon Village has been thanked by police.

Two balaclava-clad thugs attacked a 35-year-old man who was carrying thousands of pounds-worth of merchandise after visiting a jeweller’s in Wimbledon Village at about 12.30pm on Tuesday, November 1. After a struggle, a middle-aged man restrained one of the attackers and retrieved the bag before the suspects fled empty-handed in a purple Volvo towards Lancaster Road, where they got into a dark Lexus and drove towards Putney.

Merton police said they could not reveal the identity of the have-a-go hero, but praised his bravery and appealed for witnesses to help them find the thieves.

DC Tony Davies, Merton Burglary and Robbery Team, said "This was a cowardly attack on a man going about his business in Wimbledon, but thanks to the bravery of local people nearby coming to his aid, the thieves got away empty-handed and the man was not badly hurt.

If you saw what happened and haven't yet spoken to police, or if you saw a dark Lexus car driving away from the Lancaster Road area towards the direction of Putney, around 1pm, please let us know. We are really keen to speak to any other witnesses, and to find this second dark coloured Lexus car."

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or Merton police’s Burglary and Robbery Team direct on 0208 649 3233, quoting crime reference 1414893/11.