Watch: scooter robbers foiled

HERE’S the moment a brazen attempt by two would-be robbers on a motorcycle to steal a man’s scooter was foiled by passers-by.

The footage shows one of the would-be robbers, wearing a balaclava, grappling with the victim on Penge High Street, London, before picking up the scooter and attempting to ride away.

But two passers-by step in, one holding the back of the Vespa scooter and the other the front.

One of the men can be heard saying: “That’s his bike.”

The would-be robber then gives up and jumps on the pillion seat of the waiting motorcycle before both suspects ride away.

The episode, which happened on Monday shortly before 6.45pm, was posted on Facebook by Joel Willingham.

He told the MailOnline: “I was waiting to grab some lunch whilst on my break at work.

“I heard someone shouting 'help, help' and as I turned around one of the guys had got hold of the old man.

“At first you'd think it's just a road rage, but once people got involved the youth got into his bike and was about to drive away until he shouted "that's my bike".'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called at approximately 18:45hrs on Monday, 17 July to reports of an attempted robbery of a scooter in Penge High Street, SE20.

“The male victim was riding his scooter when he was pushed off his moped by two people riding a motorbike.

“An altercation between the victim and one of the suspects ensued before the suspect attempted to steal the scooter.

“Members of the public intervened and the two suspects rode off from the scene. They did not manage to steal the scooter.

“The victim was not seriously injured during the incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Bromley Police on 101, tweet to @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.