Sydenham gunpoint mugging - but 6ft 5in victim stands up to robber
10:51am Monday 17th September 2012 in Where I Live By Sarah Trotter
Six foot five man stands up to mugger at gunpoint in Sydenham
A SIX foot five man has spoken of how he stood up to a mugger who held him at gunpoint near his home in Sydenham.
Michael Roberts was returning from a friend’s 40th birthday party when he was told to empty his pockets by a gunman in Knighton Park Road in the early hours of September 2.
The 39-year-old, who lives in the same street, says the "surreal" experience made him feel "laidback" and he challenged his attacker - refusing to hand over his wallet.
The former journalist, who runs his own business called Purleybeds, said: "I am six foot five so I never had any problems before. I have travelled all over the world to weird places and never had any problems.
"He tapped me on the shoulder and I thought he was asking for directions and he asked me to empty my pockets.
"I asked why and he said he had a gun and got it out. I handed the phone over but refused to give him my wallet. I said I would give him cash.
"I didn’t want to go through cancelling all the cards. I just said, ‘There is no way I am giving you the wallet.’"
The thug agreed to the deal and Mr Roberts parted with around £30 cash and was left alone.
He says he did not feel scared at the time but has since taken a taxi to his front door after a night out and is about to buy a dog.
The keen cyclist said: "I wasn’t really scared at all. The weird thing was he was so laidback and it made me quite laidback. It felt surreal - like it was happening to someone else.
"I just never expected to be mugged there. It is very quiet. It is a suburban area with lots of families.
"It has made me think twice. I didn’t think he had made me nervous but now I take a cab all the way home.
"As a side issue, I am getting a dog - I would feel happier walking along with it. Maybe an Alsatian but it is not because of that."
Police are currently investigating the incident and no arrests have yet been made.
Comments(13)
TIGGY-LEWISHAM
says...
2:21pm Mon 17 Sep 12
TIGGY-LEWISHAM
says...
2:23pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Lets agree to agree
says...
9:51am Tue 18 Sep 12
bible scoffer
says...
10:27am Tue 18 Sep 12
Guess who ;) AGAIN !
says...
10:52am Tue 18 Sep 12
TIGGY-LEWISHAM
says...
7:00pm Tue 18 Sep 12
commenting scoffer
says...
10:25am Thu 20 Sep 12
TIGGY-LEWISHAM
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10:35am Thu 20 Sep 12
the wall
says...
4:09pm Thu 20 Sep 12
commenting scoffer wrote:Why are you bring me into this ?
...and 'the wall' would have handed the lot over!! rofl!!
Do you still walk down the road arguing with your can of Stella?
needsalife
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2:12pm Sat 22 Sep 12
ChrisHatchman
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10:31am Mon 24 Sep 12
TIGGY-LEWISHAM - It's absurd to think this chap is pulling some sort of publicity stunt. There's a hundred easier and more productive ways to promote his business. Then you go on to say he better "watch out". You might think threatening a victim is cool, but it is not. It is small and gutless, just like the mugger.
needsalife - You are obviously trolling. There is no case to sympathise with the mugger. If the mugger was a drug addict or had family to feed then there are plenty of services to that can help. - http://www.nhs.uk/Se
rviceDirectories/Pag
es/ServiceResults.as
px?Postcode=SE26&Ser
viceType=DrugAddicti
onSupport
Mr Roberts - well done sir. I hope you ignore the idiotic comments above. The world need more people like you.
TIGGY-LEWISHAM
says...
10:37am Mon 24 Sep 12
MFC Lion says...
12:01pm Mon 17 Sep 12