South African duo tackle French Pilferer

So when she wants to Skype I know something is up.  When she begins by saying ‘now don’t freak out’, I am already past that stage.  There is something very rotten in France and it ain’t the cheese. Stage right for setting of scene.

One large security gate leading to a courtyard.  A second security door allows entry to the building.  Each apartment has its own security.  But, Sam is robbed of her wallet by a dodgy, homeless person who somehow made it through the first two security gates.  Her South African-trained instinct for ‘hier kom kak’ kicks in as she sees him flick the wrist and screams blue murder, or rather ‘help’ as he takes off down the staircase.  There are those who will watch helplessly, shocked by what has just happened and start crying that all is lost.  Then there is Callan and Sam. The South African duo in Paris who have just been seriously pissed off.  Off they charge behind him, whilst yelling for others to assist (you see women do this multi-tasking so beautifully).  In his wildest dreams this pilferer could not have imagined being pursued by two young girls.

There is no mercy. One swift rugby tackle and the thief is on the ground. They struggle, he slips away and barely standing, is swiftly brought down again as Callan hangs onto his legs like a snake to a tree in a flood. Sam flies through the air and lands on his back. It is useless to struggle. The courtyard is a marketplace of shocked students,  finally able to summon courage to help apprehend the fiend.

The police are equally fascinated.

‘Non?’  C’est vrai?  Zeez cannot be?’

‘It’s true’.

News is spreading fast. Two young women have tackled and subdued the man now behind bars. More policemen gather in the office to validate the rumour that girls rugby-tackled a thief.  Some of the policemen ask to have pictures taken with them. They speak little English but it is clear they are party to an unusual situation. Here in Paris, pilfering is rife, part of society and they have never heard of young ladies in hot pursuit before.

Then one of them asks;

‘Pardon Mesdemoiselles?’

Callan and Sam listen intently.  Very difficult to understand these French gendarmes, remember they came to study French and it is now day two.

‘Oui?’ says Callan.

‘I wanted to know…Where do you come from?’

‘South Africa.’

‘Alors!’  He shouts and the men rally closer, forming a circle around them