Restaurateur fights off mugger
SHAWN JEFFORDS AND JENNY YUEN
First posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 07:57 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 08:20 PM EST
A would-be mugger got more than he bargained for when he tried to rob a well-known Toronto restaurateur.
The aptly-named Arron Barberian, owner of Barberian’s Steakhouse on Elm St., might have looked like an easy mark when he set out on Monday morning to deliver a cash float to a sandwich shop he owns with partners down the street.
Clad in a black coat and glasses, carrying a till full of money, the grey-haired businessman is seen walking on security camera video which has now been posted online.
An unidentified black male is seen running down the street behind Barberian. When he catches up, he reaches over, pushes Barberian and attempts to steal the money.
But Barberian transforms from mild-mannered restaurateur to whirling dervish, fighting back against the crook.
“I kind of did a hockey move where I rag-dolled him and kind of kept him to the ground,” Barberian recalled on Tuesday. “I didn’t really try to assault this guy or hit him or hurt him. I just wanted to hold him for police.”
Barberian said adrenaline kicked in when the man pounced, attempting to steal the till which contained $400. In retrospect, he admitted it wasn’t a “genius” move, but explained he was upset.
“I realized he didn’t have a weapon,” he added. “In his hands he had fives and tens and that’s when the till went flying and I starting whirling around with him.”
The video shows Barberian attempt to throw the man to the ground as a sandwich shop employee comes to his aid. The struggle continues into the street where cash from the till blows away in the wind and the pair continue to wrestle.
Barberian chases the man out of the view of the camera and said he followed him to a nearby parking garage where he gave up the chase. In the end, he estimates the man got away with very little cash and about $125 blew away in the wind.
A Good Samaritan is seen trying to scoop up cash to give back to Barberian. Another women, wearing red-soled boots enters view of the camera, but instead of helping, she grabs the businessman’s iPhone, stopping traffic to do it, and then leaves.
“She sees my cell phone in the middle of the road, stops traffic and steals my cellphone,” he said, adding that upset him more than the attempted mugging.
A Toronto Police spokesman said Tuesday night that officers are investigating.
Barberian told the Toronto Sun police had a suspect in custody, however, Const. David Hopkinson said he didn’t wish to identify the man “because we’re trying not to harm our case before the court.”
Police have not looked into the theft of Barberian’s cellphone.
shawn.jeffords@sunmedia.ca
SHAWN JEFFORDS AND JENNY YUEN
First posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 07:57 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 08:20 PM EST
A would-be mugger got more than he bargained for when he tried to rob a well-known Toronto restaurateur.
The aptly-named Arron Barberian, owner of Barberian’s Steakhouse on Elm St., might have looked like an easy mark when he set out on Monday morning to deliver a cash float to a sandwich shop he owns with partners down the street.
Clad in a black coat and glasses, carrying a till full of money, the grey-haired businessman is seen walking on security camera video which has now been posted online.
An unidentified black male is seen running down the street behind Barberian. When he catches up, he reaches over, pushes Barberian and attempts to steal the money.
But Barberian transforms from mild-mannered restaurateur to whirling dervish, fighting back against the crook.
“I kind of did a hockey move where I rag-dolled him and kind of kept him to the ground,” Barberian recalled on Tuesday. “I didn’t really try to assault this guy or hit him or hurt him. I just wanted to hold him for police.”
Barberian said adrenaline kicked in when the man pounced, attempting to steal the till which contained $400. In retrospect, he admitted it wasn’t a “genius” move, but explained he was upset.
“I realized he didn’t have a weapon,” he added. “In his hands he had fives and tens and that’s when the till went flying and I starting whirling around with him.”
The video shows Barberian attempt to throw the man to the ground as a sandwich shop employee comes to his aid. The struggle continues into the street where cash from the till blows away in the wind and the pair continue to wrestle.
Barberian chases the man out of the view of the camera and said he followed him to a nearby parking garage where he gave up the chase. In the end, he estimates the man got away with very little cash and about $125 blew away in the wind.
A Good Samaritan is seen trying to scoop up cash to give back to Barberian. Another women, wearing red-soled boots enters view of the camera, but instead of helping, she grabs the businessman’s iPhone, stopping traffic to do it, and then leaves.
“She sees my cell phone in the middle of the road, stops traffic and steals my cellphone,” he said, adding that upset him more than the attempted mugging.
A Toronto Police spokesman said Tuesday night that officers are investigating.
Barberian told the Toronto Sun police had a suspect in custody, however, Const. David Hopkinson said he didn’t wish to identify the man “because we’re trying not to harm our case before the court.”
Police have not looked into the theft of Barberian’s cellphone.
shawn.jeffords@sunmedia.ca
Images taken from security video which shows Arron Barberian, owner of Barberian’s Steakhouse on Elm St., fight off a mugger.
