Staff to personally thank man who tackled jewel thief

The attempted theft occurred at Michael Hill Jewellers in Sylvia Park mall. Photo / NZ Herald

Former workmates of the man who tackled a hammer-wielding jewel thief, receiving 36 stitches to the face for his troubles, say they want to thank him with flowers and a visit as soon as he is well enough.

The attempted theft occurred at Michael Hill Jewellers in Sylvia Park mall yesterday morning.

The man tried to make off with nearly $40,000 of stolen jewellery, only to be chased and then held down by Good Samaritans inside the mall.

One of the men who tackled the thief was a former Michael Hill Jeweller employee, said store manager Deo Saunders.

The man had worked as a Christmas casual two years ago and Ms Saunders described him as "very calm and very nice," but said she did not know him that well.

"But I mean after this I'm sure we're going to want to know him a little bit better."

The staff wanted to personally thank the man for his efforts and planned to visit with flowers when he was "well and ready," Ms Saunders said.

"We want to go visit him to make sure he is ok because 36 stitches isn't small."

Ms Saunders said she had text him saying the team was there to do "whatever we can do to help him."

"We've just got to be here for each other I suppose."

Ms Saunders said the assailant entered the store yesterday morning, pretending to be a customer.

"All we said to him was hello ... and he had a bag, and then he just grabbed this hammer out of the bag and smashed the counter and then just grabbed whatever he wanted."

Ms Saunters, who was in the bathroom at the time of the incident, ran back into the store after hearing her co-workers screams.

"Their first reaction is 'what the hell's going on', they started screaming at him and of course there was a massive panic."

By the time she reached the scene, the man, who now worked across the mall at the Vodafone store, had already sprung into action.

"I suppose his instincts took over."

She said it was unfortunate but not surprising her old workmate was hit during the incident.

"He [the thief] was swinging that hammer around pretty vigorously."

Despite his own injuries, the man still made the time to check in on Michael Hill employees after being released from hospital.

"Him and his girlfriend had come in in and we were all very grateful that he popped in just to check up on us straight after he got released from A and E," Ms Saunders said.

"He came in just to check that the girls were alright."

They were shaken but doing alright, Ms Saunders said.

One had taken the day off today to recuperate.