A BRAVE shop boss grabbed a sawn-off shotgun from a robber before chasing him down the street and wrestling him to the ground.
Michael Guldede saw red when a raider struck him in the face with the butt of the gun and demanded cash.
Without thought for his own safety he lunged across the counter to grab the weapon and gave chase down Alma Road in Bournemouth.
Passers-by initially thought Mr Guldede was the armed robber but called police when he explained what had happened.
The drama unfolded at 9.50pm on Sunday when a man wearing a balaclava entered Bingham Stores and made threats.
“He hit me with the gun near my eyebrow and asked for money” said Mr Guldede.
“Then he started getting greedy and asked for more so I just grabbed the gun. I didn’t think about what I was doing and I’d chased him half way down the road before I realised I was still holding the gun.
“I threw it on the ground before I jumped on him and took him down.
“I had to shout at the people around me to explain that he had tried to rob me.”
Mr Guldede’s father, Mehmet, said: “It could have been a lot more serious but I understand why he did it.
“We work long hours so when someone comes in and tries to take the money it makes us angry.”
And friend Ismail Gunduz added: “He made a mistake when he hit him with the gun.”
Mr Guldede said all the cash has been recovered and added: “He kept asking me to let him go and said he would give the money back – I told him I was having the money back anyway.”
Detective Sergeant Andy Bell of Bournemouth CID said: “I am keen to speak to anyone who witnessed people running down the road at the time of this incident or the alleged robbery itself.
“I urge anyone with information to contact me in the strictest confidence."
Anyone with information is asked to call Dorset Police on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
Mobile phone tariffs may apply.
A 50-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been arrested and is helping police with their inquiries.
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