London Bus Driver Loses Job After Returning Stolen Necklace

When a thief snatched a necklace from a passenger on his bus, Mark Hehir didn't hesitate to help. The London bus driver chased down the criminal, recovered the stolen jewelry, and returned it to the frightened woman.

On June 25, 2024, Hehir was driving the 206 bus through northwest London when a man pushed past passengers and grabbed a woman's necklace before running away. Hehir, who had worked for Metroline for two years, immediately left his bus with the handbrake on and doors open to pursue the thief.

He successfully retrieved the necklace and returned it to its owner. But the incident wasn't over.

The thief returned to the bus and threw the first punch at Hehir. Acting in self-defense, the driver struck back once, knocking the man unconscious before restraining him on the pavement for nearly 30 minutes until police arrived.

Police arrested both men but quickly released Hehir with no charges. A detective's report confirmed Hehir used "proportionate and necessary" force in defending himself and the passenger.

Why This Inspires

Despite being cleared by police, Metroline fired Hehir for gross misconduct. The company claimed he brought them into disrepute and endangered passengers by leaving the bus unattended with the engine running.

At the disciplinary hearing, Metroline's operations manager suggested the thief had returned to apologize and shake hands, not to attack. She ruled the 30-minute restraint was excessive force, even though Hehir explained the female passenger was scared and he feared the man would retaliate if released.

Hehir told the hearing that passengers and the public viewed him as a hero for his actions. An employment tribunal later upheld his dismissal, finding the company's decision fell within reasonable employer responses.

The case highlights a difficult question about when protecting others crosses workplace boundaries. While Hehir lost his job, he kept his conscience clear and gave one frightened passenger her property back.