Saturday 26 January 2013

Robber dies after attempted bookmaker raid - oh dear, how sad, never mind

From BBC News (full story here)
A masked gunman has died after being pinned down and restrained by customers during an armed robbery at a bookmakers in Plymouth. 
The man, in his 50s, entered the Ladbrokes branch in Crownhill Road at 18:45 GMT on Friday wearing a gas mask and holding a pistol. 
Police arrested the man, who was already unconscious, but he died a short time later at the scene.

5 comments:

  1. An Old Lag writes27 January 2013 at 11:33

    Mr. Alan Levers, 50, broke a cardinal rule when he tried out the Ladbroke's "blag". If you suffer from a respiratory condition [he had a lung condition caused by years of drug and alcohol abuse] never wear a World War II gas mask because it severely restricts your breathing and vision [also hearing because you have to keep snorting loudly to fill your lungs]. People are therefore able to creep up on you and wrestle you to the ground. It is the same principle as urban tank warfare - because of the poor visibility in a tank never go into action without infantry support to prevent sneaky flank attacks. I thought I would just mention it again. Stick to the old balaclava with big nostril-holes.

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  2. An Old Lag writes29 January 2013 at 10:33

    Mr. Peter Levers, a nephew of the Ladbroke's blagger,is now insisting that the family "is not seeking revenge" over his death [DT,28th Jan]. A Diamond Geezer, indeed.

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    1. It's indeed heartening to learn that Mr Levers can find it in his heart to forgive. I expect he's a committed Christian.

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  3. Revd Spacely Trellis29 January 2013 at 14:01

    I think we must resist the temptation to judge. One could argue that he was simply a customer moving forward in a mental model towards a purchase event. The fact that his mode of purchase, i.e. robbery, might find itself at odds with the orthodox norms and standards usually applicable in such situations may be of some relevance to those to whom these distinctions are important. But in the rich and diverse culture that is modern Britain, there is surely room for allowing those with different perspectives on property to express themselves.

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    1. I think he was going for an outside-in experience, but then found himself having an inside-out one. Or else he was trying for a lean-in, lean-back, lean-in sort of vibe, but it turned out to be a lean-in, lean-back, stop-breathing one instead.

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