Off-Duty Officers Win Bravery Awards for Tackling Armed Burglars

7 May 2025

Two off-duty officers who courageously confronted and then apprehended armed burglars – who were attacking them with a crowbar - have won Essex Police Federation 2025 Bravery Awards.

In the early hours of on 31 July 2022, Sgt Alex Farr and PC Sam Hilbery were driving home from a late shift when they passed Sainsbury's in Rochford and heard an alarm going off.

They slowed down to check what was going on. The front door of the shop opened and the officers saw a man wearing a balaclava standing inside the shop, holding two shopping bags and a crowbar. 

PC Hilbery said: “As we were driving past the train station we noticed that the door to the Sainsburys was open and we were like, ‘That’s not right. That’s meant to be shut’. Then I think as we were looking around we saw someone come out of the store who was dressed all in black, balaclava on, with a bag.”

Sgt Farr recalled: “He kind of reminded me of Bane from Batman because he had the mask on... he was holding two bags of charity donation money pots that he’d just stolen.”

Sgt Farr and PC Hilbery pulled over next to the shop. The suspect saw them and started waving the crowbar around to try to intimidate them, before running off. The officers jumped out of their vehicle and ran after him.

They challenged the man, but he continued to wave the crowbar towards them in a threatening manner.

Sgt Farr said: “We tried to circle him to try and grab hold of him, but every time I went near him he took a swipe at me.”

He then dropped the bags so he could better wield the crowbar.

PC Hilbery managed to grab the arm that was holding the crowbar, and Sgt Farr grabbed his other arm. A violent struggle ensued as they tried to detain the man.

As they did so, the man stumbled into a bush and fell to the ground.

Sgt Farr and PC Hilbery seized the opportunity to get on top of the man and restrain him. But the man continued to fight with the officers, while still holding the crowbar. During the struggle, PC Hilbery managed to call 999 to ask for urgent assistance.

Unbeknown to them at the time, the male suspect had a female accomplice. While PC Hilbery was summoning help, the women approached them and started trying to pull Sgt Farr off the man, to help him escape. PC Hilbery had to leave Sgt Farr still trying to restrain the man, so that she could keep the woman away.

The woman grabbed PC Hilbery around the neck with both hands, strangling her.

PC Hilbery managed to get her off, but the woman then picked the crowbar up from the ground. PC Hilbery shouted at her to put it down, while identifying herself as a police officer. The woman ran off, still armed with the crowbar.

The man was still actively fighting with Sgt Farr, so PC Hilbery again helped restrain him. Luckily a marked car was driving past, and PC Hilbery managed to flag it down and ask for assistance.

Both the male and female suspects were arrested and later charged with burglary and possession of an offensive weapon and were convicted at court.

On hearing they had won an Essex Police Federation Bravery Award, Sgt Farr said: “It’s very cliché, but every officer would do the same because it’s our job. I feel like an imposter really, because I think anyone would do the same. If you see someone committing an offense, that’s what we’re there to do.”

Essex Police Federation Chair Laura Heggie said: “What incredible courage. Once again this incident shows how our Essex Police colleagues are never truly off duty.

“Alex and Sam didn’t hesitate to intervene when they saw a burglary taking place, even though they were carrying no PPE. They showed great courage and tenacity in apprehending these two criminals and getting them off the streets.

“We are very proud of them.”

Sgt Farr and PC Hilbery will attend the 2025 Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards on 15 May. At the event an overall winner or team will be announced, who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards are in association with The National Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the awards are Metfriendly, No1 Copperpot Credit Union, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Uniform Mortgages, Police Mutual, Niche, THB Legal, George Burrows and Arc Legal.