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Three butchers are being hailed as heroes after catching a knife-wielding man who allegedly tried to rob a West Auckland liquor store.
The men were working at Sam's Butchery on Great North Rd, Glen Eden, when one of their customers ran in to tell them a female assistant at King Dick's liquor store was being robbed.
"The three of us ran out and saw a lady, with just a bra on, outside the liquor store screaming," one of the men said.
The trio - who did not want to be named, fearing reprisals - said they gave chase when the attacker ran off.
"The guy saw us and then he ran away, ran around the corner where he stopped to catch his breath."
They continued to chase him and the attacker turned and headed back in the direction he came from.
He was then tackled and held by all three men until police arrived.
He thrashed around but did not say anything to his captors. None of the butchers saw a knife, but one told the Herald it would not have mattered if they had.
"It might have been thrown away by then ... I don't know. We would do it again. When you see a lady being robbed you just react. Someone has to do something," he said.
He did not think they were brave for what they did.
After giving statements to the police it was back to the butchery for the three men. No one was injured during the scuffle. "It's not really what you expect to do, a run and give chase, on a Monday morning."
The men's boss, Ragu Nadason, said he was proud of his staff. "They were brave doing what they did and helping someone."
Inspector Kerry Watson said the butchers' intervention was appreciated.
A 19-year-old male is due to appear in court this week charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and assault with intent.
