Shirtless and shoeless, James and Kane singlehandedly prevented the alleged robbery of a shop, despite having just suffered a "busted plugga"...
Last year, two Australian men were drunk and barely clothed coming back from a party on the Gold Coast when they stopped briefly at a service station only to see a nearby restaurant being robbed. And so they did what anyone would do and called the authorities.
But then, they also did what very few people would do: they ran to the getaway car, took the keys, and then had a confrontation with the would-be criminals. The story has made the two men, James Ross-Munro and Kane Wiblen, momentarily famous in Australia, and so they were interviewed on Australia's Today show.
A pair of Aussie Pluggas (Thongs)
During the interview Karl Stefanovic applauded the two unlikely heroes and claimed that they were the reason that he'd come back from holidays.
The resulting interview is the most delightfully Australian thing you've ever heard...
A few quick translations:
"Busted my plugger" means "broke my sandal."
"I thought something was a bit suss..." means "I thought something was a bit suspicious."
"I haven't been to the gym in years. The only gym I go to is Jim Beam" means the same thing it means here.
This is how it went down...
It was about 1 am on Saturday when the 25-year-old James Ross-Munro spotted two would-be thieves smash their way into takeaway shop Oporto on the Gold Coast Highway at Arundel.
Armed with only a busted thong, he bolted to the shopfront where he ripped off his shirt and took the keys from the ignition of the waiting getaway car.
His mate, Kane Wiblen, videoed the whole dramatic incident, including when James came to blows with an offender before chasing the two men, while screaming obscenities. The video went viral on social media with Kane's original Facebook post attracting 1.5 million views in just two days.
James Ross-Munro & Kane Wiblen
“We had just been dropped to the servo to get some two minute noodles after a night out at Options Tavern,” James said.
“I’d just tried to jump a sign and busted my brand new Rip Curl pluggas when I saw a white Commodore with no number plates and an open door outside the shop.
“Kane was already filming me because of the failed advertising sign jump but when we saw the dodgy car and realised guys had broken in we ran over.
“There wasn’t much time to think, the first thing I did was rip my singlet off; it’s Aussie to be shirtless in a fight and I didn’t want my shirt to get dirty.
“I grabbed the keys out of the ignition and a few minutes later two guys with shirts over their faces came out.
“The first one saw me and bolted but the second one just got in the car, so I jumped straight in after him.
“As I did I did think ‘what if he’s armed’, but I couldn’t see a weapon, so we had a chat and I laid into him a couple of times.
“He tried to keep his face covered, then ran off, I chased, but not for long, I’m too fat for cardio.”
James said he was shocked the video had taken off.
“People are saying I’m a hero, which is kind of weird; I don’t think I am. I’m just an Aussie bloke that saw a wrong that had to be righted,” he said.
“When I saw the car I just thought it could be a stolen family car being used in a robbery and it’s just not right.
“I have thought since it could have ended up being pretty dangerous, but I would do it again.”
Kane, who was visiting from Ipswich, said he yelled to the service station attendant to call the police.
Commended for quick thinking - but with a warning
Inspector Scott MacQueen commended the quick-thinking best mates, but said Mr Ross-Munro put himself in danger jumping in the getaway car.
James Ross-Munro takes the keys to the getaway car
“This incident was resolved without injuries, but we would urge members of the public contact police rather than confront offenders,” Inspector MacQueen said.
“Taking the keys from the ignition would have been enough to slow the offenders down, jumping in the car was not needed.
“Police are specially trained to respond to these situations, they have tasers, capsicum spray and guns.
“A gentleman with a busted thong just doesn’t have the same capabilities.”
Mr Ross-Munro said his new found fame had brought him online haters, but also the offer of a year’s supply of pluggas.
“That will be great for me as I’m always busting my pluggas — my missus was more mad about my broken thong than she was about what happened at the servo,” he said.
James Ross-Munro with goodies customers have been bringing into his work. Picture: Richard Gosling
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Last year, two Australian men were drunk and barely clothed coming back from a party on the Gold Coast when they stopped briefly at a service station only to see a nearby restaurant being robbed. And so they did what anyone would do and called the authorities.
But then, they also did what very few people would do: they ran to the getaway car, took the keys, and then had a confrontation with the would-be criminals. The story has made the two men, James Ross-Munro and Kane Wiblen, momentarily famous in Australia, and so they were interviewed on Australia's Today show.
A pair of Aussie Pluggas (Thongs)
During the interview Karl Stefanovic applauded the two unlikely heroes and claimed that they were the reason that he'd come back from holidays.
As it was, the two men who foiled the robbery seemed to be more concerned about a broken pair of thongs than their lives while filming the incident.
The resulting interview is the most delightfully Australian thing you've ever heard...
A few quick translations:
"Busted my plugger" means "broke my sandal."
"I thought something was a bit suss..." means "I thought something was a bit suspicious."
"I haven't been to the gym in years. The only gym I go to is Jim Beam" means the same thing it means here.
This is how it went down...
It was about 1 am on Saturday when the 25-year-old James Ross-Munro spotted two would-be thieves smash their way into takeaway shop Oporto on the Gold Coast Highway at Arundel.
Armed with only a busted thong, he bolted to the shopfront where he ripped off his shirt and took the keys from the ignition of the waiting getaway car.
His mate, Kane Wiblen, videoed the whole dramatic incident, including when James came to blows with an offender before chasing the two men, while screaming obscenities. The video went viral on social media with Kane's original Facebook post attracting 1.5 million views in just two days.
James Ross-Munro & Kane Wiblen
“We had just been dropped to the servo to get some two minute noodles after a night out at Options Tavern,” James said.
“I’d just tried to jump a sign and busted my brand new Rip Curl pluggas when I saw a white Commodore with no number plates and an open door outside the shop.
“Kane was already filming me because of the failed advertising sign jump but when we saw the dodgy car and realised guys had broken in we ran over.
“There wasn’t much time to think, the first thing I did was rip my singlet off; it’s Aussie to be shirtless in a fight and I didn’t want my shirt to get dirty.
“I grabbed the keys out of the ignition and a few minutes later two guys with shirts over their faces came out.
“The first one saw me and bolted but the second one just got in the car, so I jumped straight in after him.
“As I did I did think ‘what if he’s armed’, but I couldn’t see a weapon, so we had a chat and I laid into him a couple of times.
“He tried to keep his face covered, then ran off, I chased, but not for long, I’m too fat for cardio.”
James said he was shocked the video had taken off.
“People are saying I’m a hero, which is kind of weird; I don’t think I am. I’m just an Aussie bloke that saw a wrong that had to be righted,” he said.
“When I saw the car I just thought it could be a stolen family car being used in a robbery and it’s just not right.
“I have thought since it could have ended up being pretty dangerous, but I would do it again.”
Kane, who was visiting from Ipswich, said he yelled to the service station attendant to call the police.
Commended for quick thinking - but with a warning
Inspector Scott MacQueen commended the quick-thinking best mates, but said Mr Ross-Munro put himself in danger jumping in the getaway car.
James Ross-Munro takes the keys to the getaway car
“This incident was resolved without injuries, but we would urge members of the public contact police rather than confront offenders,” Inspector MacQueen said.
“Taking the keys from the ignition would have been enough to slow the offenders down, jumping in the car was not needed.
“Police are specially trained to respond to these situations, they have tasers, capsicum spray and guns.
“A gentleman with a busted thong just doesn’t have the same capabilities.”
Mr Ross-Munro said his new found fame had brought him online haters, but also the offer of a year’s supply of pluggas.
“That will be great for me as I’m always busting my pluggas — my missus was more mad about my broken thong than she was about what happened at the servo,” he said.
James Ross-Munro with goodies customers have been bringing into his work. Picture: Richard Gosling
Sources:
https://www.gq.com/story/australian-heroes-today-show-interview
https://www.facebook.com/iwakeupwithtoday/videos/1156205567747440/
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