Hero on one-man mission to fight crime

The streets are littered with villains and Superman and Batman are nowhere to be seen. But help is at hand because a hero is on a one-man mission to fight crime.

In his crusade against good versus evil, do-gooder Vincent Oligbo has rescued damsels from the hands of sneaky pick pocketers and launched himself at yobs attacking innocent people.

Vincent says he has performed at least 30 citizens arrests in central London.

His latest mission, where he threw himself at an armed pick pocket, has earned him an award for his bravery.

He's had a knife pulled at him twice and damaged his leg in one fierce scuffle. But he shrugs off his actions, saying: "I'm just trying to be the good guy."

Dad-of-three Vincent, 40, says he made his first arrest in 1992, when he spotted a pick pocketer in London. He said: "I was just walking along Piccadilly when I saw a man trying to pick pocket. I chased him and when I caught up with him he had a knife. "I got hold of his arm and twisted it so he couldn't attack me. Then the police arrived and took him away."

Since then trainee lawyer Vincent says he's stopped dozens of crimes. These include a man trying to pick pocket two old ladies and a gang of thugs beating up an innocent man. He said: "I have arrested so many villains in central London. "One time I arrested a pick pocket in Paddington when I was on my way to hospital. I had ripped my knee ligaments in a car accident and I was on crutches.

"I came out of the station and was walking towards the hospital when I saw a man dipping his hand into a tourist's bag.

"I dropped my crutches and jumped on him. We went crashing to the floor and he started struggling while his accomplice kicked me, trying to make me let him go.

"But I held on and luckily there was a police car passing so they stopped and arrested the man.

"Another time I was having a drink in a pub and a group of men started chasing three guys. The guys were shouting for help and I started running towards them.

"The gang started beating one of the boys so badly he nearly passed out and I grabbed him and pulled him off. "If I hadn't intervened it could have been fatal."

Security executive and former bodybuilder Vincent, who stands at 6ft 3ins, said his years in the security industry have given him an eye for spotting crime.

He said: "Having worked in the security business for so long I am conscious of what is going on around me. When I see certain people I get the feeling they are no good."I just act on instinct. I can't walk away."My wife is not too happy about it sometimes. She says I am becoming too much of a busy body.

"But I am sick and tired of crime and while I might not be able to solve every crime I can do my bit.

"Everyone has the right to live their lives the way they want and to walk the streets and feel safe. "I have always had a sense of right and wrong and sometimes it gets me into trouble."

Vincent has just been given a certificate of merit at the Binney Awards for his bravery when he noticed a pick pocket stealing from a woman's bag when she stepped on to a bus.

Vincent, from Plumstead, London, got on the bus and detained the criminal. The bus was taken to Green Park where police were waiting.

The man was later found to have a knife, which he admitted he would have used. Vincent was given the honour on the recommendation of the Metropolitan Police.

He said: "I reacted instinctively. We should all take a stand against criminals behaving this way in public and I just acted as I could see something going on in front of my very eyes that I thought was not right. "We can all work together to make the streets safe for everyone."

But Vincent warned have a go heroes against getting involved in situations when they aren't equipped, saying: "You have to know what you are doing so you don't get into trouble."