A COUPLE leapt into action when two men in black dashed off with thousands of pounds from outside their Southampton corner shop.

Ranjit and Mohinder Laly told how they chased after the thieves, who had stolen a briefcase containing their takings.

The pair hurtled across a busy main road and chased the youths for about 100 yards until they vanished in a getaway car.

Mr Laly, 60, owner of Laly's general store in Thornhill Park, said: "It was a terrible shock. We have had break-ins and things before but nothing like this."

The couple, who have run the Thornhill Park Road shop for the past 20 years, were about to drive off when they heard someone opening the boot of their Mercedes.

Within seconds the rear passenger door had also opened and Mr Laly's briefcase, which had been wedged between the seats, was snatched.

With the engine of the car still running, the couple jumped out and raced after the culprits. The pair were chased up nearby Pine Drive, where they jumped into a cream or beige-coloured car and sped off.

Father-of-three Mr Laly said he was grateful to a customer who followed the thieves in a car and stopped to check if the case had been abandoned. It is understood the man, a regular customer at Laly's, noticed the youths acting suspiciously as they approached the store.

Believed to be aged around 18, both were dressed in black bomber jackets, jeans, woolly hats, gloves and trainers.

They escaped with the briefcase containing several thousand pounds in takings along with lottery cash and personal items.

Sergeant Sharman Carr, of Bitterne CID, said the road and area would have been busy at the time of the incident just after 7pm on Thursday.

Anyone with information should contact Bitterne CID on 01703 335444 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

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