Three brave members of the public tackled a robber to the ground on a busy Leeds high street moments after a £1 million jewellery heist. The dramatic incident, captured on CCTV, saw Estonian robber Taimar Uibopuu, 30, apprehended by passers-by after he fled Berry's jewellers.
Footage from inside the store shows Uibopuu raiding display cases while accomplice Alar Kajurand, 44, disguised in a black wig, points a firearm—later found to be a BB gun—at terrified staff. The trio, including Rainis Kilk, 26, fled in different directions after the raid.
Uibopuu was spotted by two men across the street, who began pointing at him. One man bravely ran over and grabbed his arm, while a second man in a baseball cap helped haul him to the ground. A third man rushed over to help restrain the thief until police arrived.
The three heroes—Dsoume Diallo, Issa Sila, and James Pass—were praised by Judge Mark Savill at Leeds Crown Court. Pass, who is partially sighted, said he used his wrestling skills to subdue the robber, adding: 'I didn't know if he had a gun or a knife, but I just grabbed him.'
Kajurand, Uibopuu, and Kilk were jailed for a combined total of 51 years for the Leeds robbery and a similar raid on a jeweller in London. Kajurand and Kilk were arrested at their Manchester hotel on 25 March after escaping the scene.
