Mecca Bingo Hero Cleaner Foils robbery
Everyone loves a hero and there is one lady who particularly must now! A poor young woman who was grabbed by a knife-wielding thug while he was attempting to rob the Mecca Bingo hall in Norwich city center on the weekend welcomed her rescue by one of the bingo club’s employees – one of the cleaners as a matter of fact.
The failed robber was aided by a get-a-way car driver mate. They had both apparently cased the club the day before according to other club employees. They were chased off on the day by 30 year old Lee Marrison (who was brave enough to stand up to the robber) who rescued the young woman. Lee had been cleaning tables in the club, when he was surprised by the thug, who had previously grabbed a young woman and was dragging her (as a shield) from room to room – while at the same time searching for money.
But the robber found a lot more than mere money when he bumped into Lee. While the terrified woman in the grip of the robber was screaming out for her life (and holding a knife at her throat) Mr Marrison shouted out to her to calm down (excellent advice when someone has a knife at your throat but how many of us could follow it – we certainly couldn’t). The robber then dropped the knife after demanding to know where all the money was.
He was then chased off by Mr Marrison and another staff member, Rex Dowe (who almost added to the ensuing drama by almost catching the culprit). Both Lee Marrison and Mr Dowe chased the robber but even though Mr Dowe got close enough to shove at the robber unfortunately it was not hard enough to stop him getting away on the back of the motor bike that was waiting for him in the adjoining alleyway.
It all happened too fast for anyone to note the number plate and due to the fact that both the robber and his get-a-way driver had balaclavas on, their faces couldn’t be seen. But even that hasn’t prevented the police from catching up with one of the culprits.
The young lady involved was relatively uninjured but naturally is in shock.
Lee Marrison made the only too true comment afterwards that these days people don’t want to get involved and that he just reacted, it was just one of those things you do, Lee said. What a great buy he is. Thank heavens that he was brave enough and caring enough about another human beings not to just turn his head away and just simply let it happen.
Here’s hoping that Mecca Bingo will acknowledge and reward this very brave young man. Lee Marrison is certainly the type of employee any bingo organization or otherwise would want and should reward.
