Labour peer Lord Glasman has thanked community safety group Shomrim after they helped apprehend two thieves on bicycles who tried to snatch his briefcase.

The lecturer in political theory managed to grab back his bag from one of the cyclists who had mounted the pavement in Stoke Newington Church Street at 11pm last Wednesday.

But volunteers from Shomrim had already been watching the “suspicious” looking men, and continued following the suspects after they called the police, who eventually arrested them.

Maurice Glasman thanked Shomrim for their “exemplary work”.

He said: “You make all people in our community safer, even me. It is wonderful that you are there and wonderful to know you.”