Keeping streets clean: Ordinary Londoners chase off machete gang with brooms

This is the moment a knife-wielding gang do battle with ordinary Londoners defending their streets.

Footage shows a moped gang looting a jewellery shop at 10am in Green Lanes, north London on Tuesday.

One of the gang keeps watch outside the gold shop as another is seen looting the stock. A nearby witness screams ‘Thief’.

The lookout taps on the window as locals approach in an apparent signal to get his fellow thieves to hurry up.

One Londoner armed only with a broom takes the guard on even after he pulls out a huge machete.

The four suspects try to make their escape with two Ikea bags full of stolen goods.

Taking the law into their own hands, Londoners throw bottles and try to knock off the last raider.

The suspect is unable to get on the getaway vehicle and is forced to flee the scene on foot.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: ‘Police were called at 10.04am on Tuesday, 24 February following reports of an armed robbery at a shop on Green Lanes, Islington.

‘During the incident, a number of members of the public attempted to prevent the suspects from making off. No injuries were reported.

‘Officers arrived on scene at 10.08am and an investigation is ongoing, with officers working quickly to secure evidence and identify suspects. At this stage, no arrests have been made.

‘Anyone with information should contact 101.’

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