'He's a hero in my eyes' - 'Super George' traps burglars in tanning salon (From Times Series)

'Super George' traps burglars in Fake-It tanning salon in North Finchley

11:27am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Natalie O'Neill

Fake-It in High Road North Finchley

A quick-thinking shopkeeper locked two women in a tanning salon and called the police after catching them trying to steal money from the till.

George Mouzouris, 50, was getting a coffee in High Road, North Finchley, when he spotted the pair through the window of the Fake-It tanning salon, which is owned by his fiancée Eleni Ioannou.

Mr Mouzouris, who helps look after the shop, said: “I saw them trying to get into the drawer behind the front desk so I walked in, locked the door behind me and called the police. It was just instinct – I didn’t really have time to think about it.

“I had my back to the door so I thought if they try anything I’d see them coming. I wasn’t really scared.

“We’ve had a lot of robberies at the shops around here so I was fed up with it. We’re all struggling to pay our rents and rates and then you get people like this who think they can just come in and rob from you. It’s not on.”

When Miss Ioannou, 42, returned to the store she has owned for six years she was shocked to find policemen inspecting the front desk for finger prints.

She said: “I just thought 'oh my God, George, you’re my hero'. I’m so proud of him – it was such a brave thing to do and he handled it really well.”

Miss Ioannou and her step-sons Anthony, 16, and Savva, 18, have nicknamed him Super George after the incident last Thursday.

Miss Ioannou said: “The boys really look up to him and are really proud of him. He’s a hero in my eyes.”

A 17 year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and 19 year old Florica Dumitrescu of Lythalls Lane, Coventry, have been charged with theft. They have denied the charges and will appear for trial in May.

A similar incident happened earlier this month when the manager at Veloces of London Alfa Romeo Specialists trapped a would-be burglar in his office in Victoria Road, New Barnet.

Michael Parker, 44, of Mornington Terrace, Mornington Crescent, was charged with burglary and will appear for trial at Willesden Magistrates' Court on May 26.