LONDON — An 84-year-old man from the UK used quick thinking and a pair of trousers to fend off a mugger less than half his age while at a laundromat in northern England.
Ron Croker found himself in a precarious situation last week at the unattended Coin-Op Launderette located in Maltby, South Yorkshire, while he was tending to his laundry.
Footage from a surveillance camera captured the tense moment when a masked individual approached him with the intent of theft. Initially, the two appeared to be grappling over the jeans Croker was folding, but the criminal was intent on seizing his wallet, a demand Croker was clearly unwilling to meet.
In a display of unexpected bravery, Croker managed to push the assailant out of the establishment, warning him that if he returned, “I’m gonna … kill you,” punctuating his threat with a colorful phrase.
Just as Croker resumed his laundry tasks, the culprit made another attempt to intimidate him. Once again, Croker stood his ground, swinging the trousers in a defensive manner that seemed to irritate the would-be thief, who ultimately decided to flee the scene.
Reflecting on the incident, Croker, a former construction foreman, shared with The Times of London, “I’ve had fights and scuffled when I was younger, but when he was coming at me I thought I couldn’t back down. There was no one there to help me. It was either me or him, and I won.”
Authorities from South Yorkshire Police later apprehended a 42-year-old suspect and charged him with attempted robbery following the incident that took place on January 7. The suspect is currently being held in custody as the legal proceedings unfold.
