EXCLUSIVE Moment two have-a-go heroes stop and restrain shoplifter after he stole sunglasses at shop owned by celeb optician Tom Davies in London’s Royal Exchange

• Romanian Muscalu Valentine, 23, broke into a store in London’s Royal Exchange 
• A city financier and retired major managed to catch the thief and pin him down

This is the dramatic moment two have-a-go heroes chase a shoplifter after he made off with sunglasses at a shop owned by celebrity optician Tom Davies in London’s Royal Exchange.

Romanian Muscalu Valentine, 23, was grabbed by a city financier and a retired major after attempting to steal glasses frames for a second time. 

The thief previously walked in to the store ‘like a customer’ before making off with three frames on July 5, and tried his luck a second time on July 17.

This time, the store manager who found themselves alone in the shop, ran behind the thief, who emerged from the store ‘carrying a handful of sunglasses’, calling for locals to stop him. 

In a heartwarming demonstration of community spirit, some people held out their legs in front of Valentine’s tracks, before the two heroes swiftly apprehended him and forced him to return the stolen sunglasses back to the store.

Romanian Muscalu Valentine, 23, was apprehended by two heroes after being seen carrying frames that he’d swiped from a London store

The ‘brave citizens’ made sure to hold the thief tight, as he tried to resist, and pinned him down until City of London Police arrived to take over.

City financier Simon White, 55, who stopped Valentine, said modestly: ‘I was just walking up Royal Exchange and I could hear some shouting and someone shouting: “Stop him. Stop him. This was 5.10pm so there were lots of people around.

‘I saw a man coming out of the optician carrying a handful of sunglasses. He came in my direction first and then he went in another direction. There was another man coming up, who grabbed him.

‘He backed towards me and I thought: “I’m going to grab him,” and that was it. Between the two of us, we got him down to the ground. I was conscious we have to keep his hands pinned down to the pavement. He still had the sunglasses in his hand.

‘By that time, we were outside the shop and the lady there had the phone in her hand. I said: “Are you calling the police?” and she said: “Yes.”

‘It wasn’t for very long. Within a minute, another man arrived in a tracksuit, who showed us his badge and he was City of London Police.’

Valentine, from Barking, east London, pleaded guilty to theft at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 18 and was released on bail on August 8 pending a drug rehabilitation order.

But he failed to show up yesterday at Westminster Magistrates Court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Valentine casually strolls into the glasses shop with the intention to swipe the designer frames

The thief heads straight for the display shelf near the door and starts grabbing the frames 

With a handful of frames, Valentine heads for the door and attempts to make off with them

The store manager who found themselves alone in the shop, ran behind the thief

Luckily, two brave heroes apprehended Valentine and forced him to return the stolen frames

The ‘brave citizens’ made sure to hold the thief tight, as he tried to resist, and pinned him down until City of London Police arrived to take over

It is the second time Davies has been the victim of criminals. Two years ago, two masked burglars broke into his Sloane Street store and stole six pairs of frames, replicas of Emma Thompson and Emma Stone’s glasses in the film Cruella. 

Last night Davies, who created the frames that actor Henry Cavill wore in the 2016 movie Superman v Batman, praised the men who chased the thief.

In an ironic twist, the designer has teamed up with Warner Bros to create a collection of Batman and Superman sunglasses to celebrate their 100th anniversary. They are being launched next month.

‘Regrettably, this is the second time I’ve had frames stolen,’ said Davies, 48, who lives in Petersham, south-west London, with his wife Kirsten, 46, and two children Oscar, 16, and Amelia, 14.

‘But, on both occasions, justice has been swift and effective – this time with the help of some local real-life superheroes. I get quite emotional when I think about it.

Davies earned his reputation as the King of Specs after making glasses for celebrities and Hollywood films

Two years ago, two masked burglars broke into his Sloane Street store and stole six pairs of frames, replicas of Emma Thompson and Emma Stone’s glasses in the film Cruella

‘My own staff member chased the thief out the store and raised the alarm and then these brave citizens apprehended him – all without any thought for their own safety.

‘We have to look after each other in this world and it warms my heart that people would help out like this. I’ve been lucky enough to make glasses for a number of fictional superheroes – the very least I can do is make some special thank you frames for their real-life counterparts.’

Valentine broke into the store in London’s Royal Exchange on July 5, stealing three pairs of frames, which were being sold for £195, £249, and £395.

Then on July 17, he tried his luck again. But he was recognised by the store manager Ekta Depala, who had been on duty 12 days earlier.

‘He walked in like a customer,’ she told the MailOnline, ‘but as soon as he came in, he went straight to the display, which is right next to the door. He started taking three frames.

‘This time because there was no one in the store, I ran behind him shouting: “Hey stop.” So, he went across the street. Someone tried to stop him by putting their leg out. But he saw that and changed his direction towards Bank station.

‘Two gentlemen from the crowd heard me saying: “Stop him.” They grabbed him. They caught him. They brought him back to the shop and forced him to give the frames back.

‘He said: “I’ve given the frames back let me go.” But one of the men said: “No you are not going.” He tried to run away. The gentlemen held him tight but they had to put him on the ground because he was trying to resist.’

Replicas of Emma Thompson and Emma Stone’s glasses in the film Cruella have previously been stolen from the store

Davies created the frames that actor Henry Cavill wore in the 2016 movie Superman v Batman

Heston Blumenthal is one of the celebrity clients who have gone to the store for their designer specs

Davies earned his reputation as the King of Specs after making glasses for celebrities such as Ed Sheeran, Heston Blumenthal, Carrie Fisher, and Susannah Constantine.

He has also created frames for a dozen Hollywood films including Superman, Spiderman, Angelina Jolie’s The Tourist, Brad Pitt’s Allied, Rowan Atkinson’s Keeping Mum and the Keanu Reeves film The Matrix.

He came up with the idea of making the £195 Superhero frames after visiting Warner Bros’ prop room in Los Angeles.

‘I wasn’t sure there was a market for adult superhero stuff until I went to Glastonbury and saw a guy walking around with a large S tattooed on his chest,’ he said. ‘Then I drove the Batmobile in LA when visiting their prop room and got inspired to make grown-up superhero glasses.’

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