A SCHOOLBOY was last night hailed a hero after foiling a would-be-thief who tried to snatch £1,000 from his B&Q till.

The crook was forced to flee the store empty handed thanks to the quick-thinking actions of 16-year-old part-time employee Dominic Stickley, from Abingdon.

The bungled raid took place at the town’s store in Nuffield Way.

Abingdon and Witney College pupil Dominic said: “I was serving and he bought a sponge.

“He did pay for the sponge, but the till opening was an opportunity for him to get the money. I was kind of in shock.”

Despite the fact that he was holding the cash the man continued to talk to the teenager.

“I don’t know what he was saying,” Dominic, a former Oxford Mail paper boy, said.

“He wasn’t making much sense. I was confused by it.”

But Dominic said if it was a ruse to distract him and make off with the cash, it didn’t work. The teenager, who is studying public services and hopes to become a police officer, said: “I just pulled the money out of his hand. He was gripping on to it.

“It did cross my mind that he could have a knife, but I thought ‘I want to keep my job’ and he didn’t get away with anything.”

Dominic’s mum Janine Stickley said: “I felt that what he did was really good, but also it was scary because you don’t know what might happen.

“He didn’t know what might happen or who he was dealing with.

“I suppose he’s a hero – he did well, but we want him to be careful at the same time.

“It’s a difficult message.”

Police spokesman said: “Thames Valley Police would like to commend Dominic for his quick thinking and fast actions that stopped this theft from taking place.

“However, we would always advise people to put their own personal safety first and would never encourage anyone to take matters into their own hands.”

A spokesman at B&Q’s head office refused to comment.

No one has yet been arrested in connection with the crime.

Police officers said that they want to speak to an Asian man, 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build, with a very thick accent who was wearing a black coat with dark trousers.

If you have any information call police on 101.

ljones@oxfordmail.co.uk