An off-duty police officer who defied a night-time raid by jewellery thieves has been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards.

At 3.30am on May 31 2019, PC Andrew Wienand, a newly qualified officer who was safely tucked up in bed in his South West London flat, heard a disturbance outside.

Going to his door, he could see that a jewellery shop was about to be burgled by a group of five men who were carrying sledgehammers and pickaxes. Quick-thinking PC Wienand decided to intervene even though he was dressed only in boxer shorts.

Shouting to neighbours to call the police, he ran at the suspects - one of whom threw a pickaxe which narrowly missing him - before the gang decided to ditch the burglary on Barnes high street and escape on mopeds.

The shop window was left damaged, but no goods had been stolen.

PC Wienand had only been part of his response team on Central West BCU for two weeks at the time of the incident.

The officer cut his bare feet on broken glass but was ready to come in for this next shift.

PC Wienand said: "I saw him raise the pickaxe - I know it sounds cliché, but time does slow. I thought the only way to get at him, because he's going to try and smash my head in with a pickaxe, is to run at him.

"I ran at him, yelling, and he got a fright. He pegged the pickaxe at me. It narrowly missed my head because I jumped to the left."

He added: "It was a flight or fight response… I've been pumped ever since I heard I was nominated.

"I think my parents would be incredibly proud. I know my family here in the UK are just so proud. My 80 year old grandmother's going down to the coffee shop going, 'My grandson did this'."

About the awards

The National Police Bravery Awards honour officers from across England and Wales who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.

The annual awards ceremony was postponed this past summer due to the pandemic, but the nominees have been announced to highlight their incredible work.

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