DAME Joanna Lumley was hailed as a hero last night for confronting motorbike-riding thieves trying to steal her car in the middle of the night.

The 79-year-old Absolutely Fabulous star was alerted by the vehicle’s alarm and dashed out of her home in a dressing gown to challenge the masked gang.

Joanna Lumley sitting in her smart car.
Dame Joanna has previously been seen driving in a Smart carCredit: Alamy
 


The Absolutely Fabulous star screamed at the thieves before they fled the sceneCredit: Getty
One crook was sitting in the driver’s seat unable to start the vehicle and fled in South London after she told him to “F*** off”.

Neighbour and Times columnist Emma Duncan said: “I peered out of the window and could see there was something untoward going on.

“I ran downstairs, slung on a coat and sprinted along the pavement towards the noise.

“A group of men on motorbikes had surrounded a car whose alarm was going off. One was yelling ‘I can’t f***ing start it!’”

Emma said she then shouted at them to “F off”, adding that the car’s owner Dame Joanna “was doing much the same.”

The writer added: “The men obligingly f***ed off.”

Emma recalled the surreal feeling of being barefoot and naked under an overcoat with Dame Joanna next to her in a dressing gown.

The actress thanked her, saying: “Darling, it’s so sweet of you to come out.”

The car’s boot was damaged.


Joanna Lumley was targeted by masked motorbike thugs who tried to steal her carCredit: Alamy
Locals reported a spate of vehicle break-ins in the area between March 26 and 28.

Thay say Dame Joanna drives a Smart car while her husband of 40 years, conductor Stephen Barlow, has a Lexus.

Retired detective chief inspector Mick Neville said: “What a Dame!

“Whether she was starring as Patsy in AbFab or Purdey in The New Avengers, Dame Joanna Lumley has always had a feisty streak.

“She and her neighbour deserve great praise for standing up to the criminals.”

Dame Joanna, 80 next month, was unavailable to comment on the incident.

Almost half of London drivers have suffered car crime in the past year, says the RAC.