Moment tourist ties ‘phone thief’ to a lamppost and ‘gives him a hiding’ after he ‘swiped bag’ in Dublin

A WOULD-be thief was left red-faced when his potential victim turned the tables on him and tied him to a lamppost.

Passers-by in Ireland laughed at the hopeless thief after a US tourist trussed him up in Dublin city centre and waited for the cops to arrive.

Eye-witnesses say the tourist from Florida – described as a “big man” with a motorcycle - gave the would-be thief a “few digs”.

The Gardai were called but while the tourist waited passersby took the opportunity to take a few pictures of the man who was tied up and posted them online.

A source told that the tourist was a "big man" who had been outside a shop with a Harley-Davidson

He said: "The (local) man then approached him and tried to take his bag and phone but I'd say he regrets it now.

"He won't be doing that again any time soon."

Pictures online show the alleged thief dressed in a red shirt and blue jean being confronted by the tourist who is wearing motorcycle gear.

Other pictures then show the man tied to the lamppost and other show him being led away by the police.

Irish cops confirmed the incident, saying they were called at around 6.30pm today.

Yesterday evening a teenage girl was stabbed in the face in Dublin during a robbery at 7.20pm in the Golden Lane area of the city.