Dramatic moment 80-year-old granny confronts moped gang as they ambush scooter rider

This was the dramatic moment an 80-year-old grandmother came to the rescue of a scooter rider who had been chased and trapped by moped thugs.

Rosemary Bodger intervened when the rider became cornered by the would-be robbers who had chased him through the streets in an attempted bikejacking.

Mrs Bodger, carrying two bags of shopping, bravely grabbed the handlebars as the two men tussled with the rider and tried to yank the scooter away.

A businessman in a suit then charged across the road to help, before two builders - brandishing copper poles “like spears” - ran after them, forcing them to flee empty-handed.

Grandmother-of-three Mrs Bodger today told the Standard: “I didn’t think twice.

“I don’t run away. I was in the Wrens (Women’s Royal Naval Service) and I thought ‘no way are they having that!’”

Mrs Bodger had been shopping in Crouch End, north London, when she witnessed the attempted robbery.

The retired librarian said: “I saw this man being chased right near me and I thought ‘oh crumbs I better do something’. I started shouting ‘police!’ as loud as I could.

“I wanted to stop them moving it, they would have had to run over me to get it away.”

She added: “I’m very impressed with how Crouch End reacted. There were suddenly lots of young men charging towards them taking them on.

“As soon as they saw they didn’t have a chance they scarpered like scared, little boys.

“I don’t think I’m a hero, I just want these two caught - I can’t have them snatching phones off my grandkids.”

The victim of the attempted robbery described how he was riding from Hornsey to the West End when he realised he was being followed by the pair on a black Vespa.

Theatre worker Stefan Cooper, 47, said: “They were following me for a long time but I didn’t really notice them until they started shouting ‘give me your keys!’ It was terrifying.

“I had a plan to try to to lead them to Hornsey police station to get help but I got stuck in traffic.

“They were trying to kick me off and managed to grab my keys out of the ignition as I was still moving. It was very dangerous and I’m shaken up.”

Mr Cooper thanked the passers-by who rushed to his aid and then stayed with him until police arrived.

He added: “It’s sad that people have to take the law into their own hands but I’m so grateful.

“I try to stay safe and stick to busy roads in daylight but they just don’t care where you are.

“Nowhere is safe. I got this bike in a bright colour so people would recognise it easily and it wouldn’t be stolen. But they don’t care about that. “I’ve read so much about this kind of crime but you never think it’s going to happen to you.”

The attempted robbery took place in Park Road, Crouch End, at 9.20am on Monday.

A witness, 27, said: “I saw the two mopeds come round the corner on the wrong side of the road weaving between cars.

“I thought they were mates at first because they were exchanging words but then I saw the look on the poor bloke’s face - he looked terrified.

“It was amazing to see so many people step in and help - even this old lady waded in.

“Then these builders came out holding copper poles, like spears, and the muggers took one look and scarpered.”

Mrs Bodger’s husband Hugh said he was “not surprised at all” that his wife took on the criminals.

He added: “That’s what she is like, it’s her Scottish side coming out. Her aunt warned me on our wedding day ‘the Robinsons are fierce when roused’.”

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said officers were investigating. No arrests have been made.

They are also probing whether the incident is linked to reports of two youths snatching two mobile phones from pedestrians in nearby Shepherds Hill a short time earlier.

In May police revealed how thieves on scooters and pedal cycles were committing up to 50,000 offences a year in an alarming crimewave,

Officers reacted by introducing radical new tactics, including using “snatch squads” to drag suspected moped thugs off their bikes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.