Harry drives to aid of mugged friend

Prince Harry drove to help a friend who was mugged while speaking to the royal on his mobile phone and gave a statement to police about the crime, it has emerged.

Hearing the robbery, the helicopter pilot realised pal Thomas van Straubenzee was in trouble and quickly drove to the scene in Battersea, south-west London.

When he could not find Mr van Straubenzee he searched for him until his “intuition” took him to the local police station where his friend was reporting the mugging, a source said.

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Mr van Straubenzee’s BlackBerry mobile phone was taken during the street attack which happened on November 30. A suspect was later arrested and bailed.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating an allegation of personal robbery which occurred at approximately 20:30hrs on Wednesday, November 30, in Albert Bridge Road, SW11.

“A mobile phone was taken during the robbery. This allegation was taken seriously, as are all allegations of robbery.

“A man was arrested on Thursday, December 1, on suspicion of robbery and bailed to return in January 2012 pending further enquiries.

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“Police from Wandsworth are investigating. The property has been recovered.”

A source confirmed that the 27-year-old prince had given a witness statement to police.

A Clarence House spokesman said: “Prince Harry joined a friend at a police station in south London after his friend had reported a robbery.

“By the time Prince Harry arrived to be with his friend, the police investigation into the incident had already begun.

“The investigation is ongoing, so we cannot comment further.”

Prince Harry recently returned from America where he was undertaking the final phases of his Apache helicopter training.

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