EVERY TIME YOU go on holiday, you get the same lecture from your mam.

You know the one.  No matter what your destination is, she’ll tell you some horror story about the pickpockets there.  ’The worst in the world’, she’ll say, and you’ll probably just ignore her.

The thing is, pickpockets are out there, and if you’re not careful you could be a victim.

Unless you fight them off, of course, like this French woman did while on holiday in Italy.

YouTube/Livesiciliaweb

Word is that they were later caught.  Good enough for them.

There is something really wonderful about seeing thieves fought off, isn’t there?

Let’s raise our fists in the air for all those who have fought off nasty robbers.

First, the granny who ran in to bat off thieves with her handbag

YouTube/jonmillsswns

The regulars in this bar at closing time.

YouTube/CavendishPressAgency

This shopkeeper who fended off gunmen with a baseball bat

YouTube/you7uber2

The staff who fought off six motorbike thieves

YouTube/ITN

The Pizza Hut employees who were having none of it

YouTube/OldervsYounger

This man who fought off a thief despite his trousers falling down

We particularly enjoy the casual grace he employs when pulling them up afterwards.

YouTube/Jamal Ahmad

And then of course there are the burglars you don’t even have to fight off

YouTube/sweetsassymolassy6

Safety first though people, don’t forget that you can replace a handbag, but not your health.

This kitten is more excited about milk than anyone has ever been about anything>

Authentic Irishman for hire has the best business card you’ll see today>