In a surprising turn of events in northern England, an 84-year-old man successfully defended himself from a would-be mugger armed only with a pair of trousers. This incident unfolded at a laundrette in Maltby, South Yorkshire, where Ron Croker was tending to his laundry last week when he encountered a masked robber.

The confrontation, which was recorded on the laundrette’s surveillance system, shows Croker engaged in a struggle with the assailant over the jeans he was folding. The attacker, appearing to want Croker’s wallet, quickly found that the elderly gentleman was not going to surrender without a fight. Croker forcibly pushed the burglar out the door, warning him that if he returned, he would face grave consequences, punctuating his statement with an expletive for added emphasis.

As Croker resumed his task of drying clothes, the would-be thief attempted another assault. In a bold defense, Croker swung his trousers at the man, using them like a weapon to push him back. Ultimately, his tactics proved effective, as the would-be mugger chose to flee the scene and did not return.

Reflecting on the harrowing encounter, Croker, a former construction foreman, stated that he had experience in physical confrontations during his younger days but knew he had to stand his ground in this situation. “There was no one there to help me. It was either me or him and I won,” he expressed in an interview with The Times of London.

Authorities with South Yorkshire Police reported that they apprehended a 42-year-old man in connection with the attempted robbery, which took place on January 7. The suspect is currently being held in custody as legal proceedings move forward.