Thirsty thief falls to shopkeeper's AB tackle

The abortive holdup was captured on CCTV. Photo / Supplied

John Lee says he doesn't know martial arts, but a would-be robber got a taste of Lee's self-defence technique after pointing an imitation rifle in his face before trying to steal a bottle of whisky from his shop.

"No martial arts, I just tackled him like an All Black," said Lee, who was duty manager when the thirsty thief entered the Sunny Liquor Centre in Northcote.

Lee was laughing about the robbery yesterday when the Herald on Sunday visited him, but CCTV footage showed it was no joke. The male robber, in his 20s, walked into the store at 4pm, hiding a large rifle under a blanket or sweater. He pulled out the rifle and pointed it at Lee who was sitting behind the counter.

"He said 'I've got a gun, give me all the money'," Lee said.

Lee stood up and confronted the robber, pushing the barrel of the gun away from his face.

The man swung the rifle across his shoulder like a hunter, picked up a bottle of whisky, and casually began walking towards the exit.

Lee jumped the counter and grabbed the offender, who swung round and smashed the rifle butt against Lee's head.

"That's when I knew it was plastic because he smashed it on my head. There was a little bit of pain but not really."

Lee pushed the man up against the wall and wrestled with him until he let go of the whisky bottle and fled.

North Shore area commander Les Paterson said the offender left his jacket, the plastic imitation gun and the bottle of whisky behind. They were all were brushed for fingerprints.

"It's normally advisable for store owners not to challenge armed persons," he said. "However, in this case the owner was able to deduce he wasn't dealing with Butch Cassidy."

The offender was arrested and charged with robbery. He is due to appear in the North Shore District Court next week.