When muggers target their victims during street crimes, they rely on the element of surprise and confidently expect to escape from the scene with the minimum of difficulty.
However, two thugs did not realise that they would have to deal with the top amateur boxer Sean McComb when they tried to stage separate robberies in Belfast city centre in the space of an hour on Sunday.
Mr Comb (24), a tour guide, firstly sprinted to the rescue of a woman who had a purse taken and then helped a tourist who lost a mobile phone, recovering the stolen property on both occasions.
They were courageous interventions by a public-spirited young man who deserves great praise for his quick-witted actions.
