Five would-be thieves who tried to rob a London pub might have done better to wait until it closed, since the regular crowd proved to be quite territorial.

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David Thompson said when the five men burst into his London bar demanding cash, a group of 30 pub regulars rose up as one and defended their "home away from" with a barrage of whatever was handy, The Times of London said Saturday.

"The regulars told them that this pub was their place and that they were just not having it," Thompson said. "They had come in the front door and left out of it as well -- pretty quickly."

Police have been unable to catch the suspects but one pub customer said they already got what they had coming.

"People were picking up ashtrays, pint glasses, chairs and even a champagne bottle and just throwing them straight at these idiots," said the pub regular who wished to remain anonymous.