Russell Crowe has proved he is a real-life hero by helping French police catch a thief. The hard man actor spotted a pair of US tourists being mugged as he was leaving a Paris restaurant last month. Although the robber escaped, the `Gladiator’ star got a good look at him nd was able to identify him to police. A source says, “It happened too fast for Russell to react but he got a good look at the thug’s face. He comforted the victims until cops came then he went to a police station and identified a mugshot. The mugger was held then put in a line-up – and Russell made a positive ID.” [15 November 2005]