This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A newly qualified police officer has won plaudits for stopping armed burglars while wearing only his underwear.

The 29-year-old PC was off-duty when he was woken up by a disturbance near his home in Barnes High Street, south-west London, at about 3.30am on Friday.

Seeing that a jewellers’ shop window had been smashed and that suspects were attempting to break in, he ran out to challenge them. The burglars threw a pickaxe at him but it narrowly missed the officer, who picked it up and ran at them.

The four suspects escaped on mopeds without managing to enter the shop or stealing anything, also leaving behind a sledgehammer and a chisel.

The PC, who is not being named, cut his foot on broken glass but was otherwise unharmed. He said: “I’m glad I was able to intervene in this case … although if it happens again, I hope I have more clothes on!”

Commander Sally Benatar, from the south-west borough command unit, said: “The bravery of this officer undoubtedly stopped the suspects from stealing anything from the premises.

“He is a brand new officer, merely days into his role as a PC and he should be very proud of his actions. I have spoken to him today to thank him for his outstanding efforts.”

No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.