A GRANDFATHER who helped foil an armed robbery said he hopes criminals will now think twice about targeting Suffolk.

Michael Graver was out shopping with his wife Penny, when the gang pulled up on scooters outside Thurlow Champness in Abbeygate Street, Bury St Edmunds.

The 71-year-old retired businessmen pushed one of the men and confronted another inside the jewellers, even managing to snatch a bag containing �22,000 of watches from the fleeing raiders.

Today Judge David Goodin, who sentenced the gang responsible to 36 years in jail, paid tribute to Mr Graver’s “commendable fortitude and bravery” and awarded �500 to him from the public purse.

Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times, Mr Graver, from near Bury St Edmunds, said he hoped his actions would act as a warning to would-be criminals.

He added: “I very much hope this will put the criminals off. Everyone we know is getting tired of villains coming up the A12 and M11 to target Suffolk.

“They think we’re an easy touch but I hope they’ll think twice now.”

Speaking about the events of February last year, Mr Graver said he had sprung into action after the raiders narrowly missed his wife as they arrived at the jewellers.

“I was really quite annoyed, because these guys came on scooters and they nearly hit my wife.

“She was walking with a stick at the time because she had fallen on the ice a few weeks before. They did not slow down and nearly hit her.”

For the full story see tomorrow’s EADT.