An Indian origin jeweler has been honored with a bravery award after helping police arrest the robbers who bound and gagged him at his jewelry store in Birmingham has been honored with a bravery award.
Chouhan Pal was presented with the West Midlands Police Chief Constable’s Good Citizen’s Award early this week for his handling of the attack on his Dubai Jewelers shop, during which he was hit, bound with ties and had sticky tape put over his mouth.
“Despite being assaulted, you displayed courage and took the risk to set the alarm off and trap the offenders inside the building with you,” Chief Constable Dave Thompson told Pal, in his 50s.
“Your quick-thinking actions and bravery allowed three offenders who had committed a robbery in the jeweler’s shop you own to be detained and arrested,” he said.
In April last year, during the raid, three robbers had made their way into the store using fake security industry identification tags claiming they needed to carry out CCTV checks.
Chouhan straight off managed to hit an alarm with his shoulder, trapping the gang in the shop and setting off a smoke cloak.
When the robbers demanded the keys to the front door, he gave them the keys to a holding area by the front door and then used the automatic release to trap them there.
A passer-by heard their cries for help and let the men out, thinking there was a fire. However, police arrived in no time and the passers-by and Chouhan helped them detain the gang.
All the three robberies went on to admit burglary at Birmingham Crown Court and were jailed for 14, 12 and nine-and-a-half years respectively in July last year.
