An 84-year-old hero, Ron Croker, used a pair of jeans to fight off a masked robber at a laundromat in Maltby, South Yorkshire, England.
When we turn on the news or scroll through our phones these days, we see evil growing stronger all around us. Our neighborhoods don’t feel as safe as they used to, and danger seems to lurk in places we once thought secure.
Yet in these dark times, we can take comfort knowing that God’s love wraps around us like a warm blanket, protecting us from threats we may never even see.
How many times have we walked through parking lots late at night, visited a store at odd hours, or found ourselves alone in public places – never knowing what dangers God steered away from our path?
Like this story shows us, evil can appear when we least expect it, but God’s protection never fails. He gives us the wisdom to act and the strength to face whatever comes our way.
On January 7, at 7:00 in the morning, Mr. Croker was drying his clothes at the Coin-Op Launderette when danger walked through the door. A man dressed in black rushed in and demanded his wallet.
But Mr. Croker, who worked hard his whole life as a construction foreman, wasn’t going to let anyone take what he earned. He grabbed his freshly folded jeans, wrapped them around his hand for protection, and stood his ground.
“I’ve worked all my life for my money. He’s not having it,” Mr. Croker said firmly. The security cameras caught every moment as this brave senior citizen fought back against someone half his age.
When the robber first came at him, Mr. Croker pushed him away. When the thief came back for more, Mr. Croker swung those jeans like a weapon and told him to stay away.
“It was either me or him and I won,” Mr. Croker told The Times of London later. He fought alone that morning – no staff was there to help, no other customers were around. Just an elderly man protecting himself with a pair of jeans and the strength God gave him.
The fight left Mr. Croker with bruises on his hands and arms. More than that, it left him with memories that keep him awake at night. “I do think about it when it’s quiet at night. That’s when the thoughts come. But I don’t regret it,” he shared. His words remind us that being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared.
The people of Maltby stepped up to support their local hero. They started a fund to help Mr. Croker and his wife Valerie, raising over £2,000 so far.
Carl Goodfellow, who started the fundraiser, said they wanted to “spread some joy into this man’s life and show him he is not alone.”
The police caught the robber – Lloyd Smith, age 42. He’s in jail now, waiting for his court date on February 7. While justice will take its course, we pray that God touches this man’s heart and leads him to a better path.
God is our fortress and strength, a very present help in trouble. Just as He gave Mr. Croker the strength and courage to face danger, He walks beside each of us every day, guarding our paths and lighting our way through darkness. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
WATCH: Brave 84-Year-Old Man Stops Robbery with Pair of Jeans
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