Security footage appears to show a young girl confronting an ax-wielding intruder at her family’s electronics store in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday.
In the video, 6-year-old Sarah Patel seems to rush to the defense of store employee Jordan Byrt as a group of robbers storm the shop. She and her grandfather later hurry out of the room before another person holding a crowbar enters.
Patel’s mother later told ONE News that her daughter approached the intruder thinking the person was her father.
“She held one of the guy’s legs because she was thinking it’s her dad. And then he just looked at her and she got scared again because he was hitting ... Jordan,” Nashrin Patel told the network.
The suspects allegedly stole cell phones, broke a glass cabinet, and injured an employee in the incident before leaving.
“It was amazing. She’s fine. We’re all fine,” said Sarah’s father, Suhail Patel. “Everyone is getting back to normal now. But it was a shock because this type of thing doesn’t normally happen where we are.”
The family pursued the intruders’ getaway vehicle to report their whereabouts to police.
Authorities later charged five 16-year-old boys with aggravated robbery, injuring with intent and breaching bail. Police are still pursuing a sixth suspect, The Guardian reported.