A brazen thief made the mistake of stealing money from a security store specialising in CCTV.

Footage from a camera in the Security Centre, Purley, shows the man nonchalantly leaning over the counter and pilfering £90 from the till while a member of staff cuts some keys for him.

Realising what has happened, sales assistant William Brewer calls through to his bosses in the back.

Retired copper Graham Peacock, who owns the store, and sales manager Danny Parker come rushing into the room and attempt to lock the bandit in, but he slips out the door and makes off down the road with the pair in pursuit.

They chase after and corner the thief who agrees to come back to the store - where he has left his helmet and rucksack.

In the meantime, 19-year-old secretary Rhoda Winter, who is two months pregnant, calls the cops.

The sticky fingered youth returns to the store and is convinced to return the money while Mr Peacock blocks his exit.

But the brazen bandit turns violent when he realises Miss Winter is still on the phone to the police.

He threatens her and starts shouting at staff before he is punched in the nose by the retired policeman, who has seven commendations for bravery to his name.

He runs into the back of the shop to grab a fire extinguisher which he launches at Mr Peacock and the exit.

When that fails to break the glass he throws himself through the window and runs off down the street, followed by the store owner.

He returns when he realises he has left his motorbike helmet and rucksack and throws a safe at staff through the window before running off.

Mr Peacock, a father of five and grandfather of three, managed to catch hold of the thief before he is thrown to the floor as he makes his escape.

The Purley resident is helped back into the shop by his horrified employees before he collapses on the floor struggling to breathe and suffering from two broken ribs.