Singer and reality star Ozzy Osbourne had a rude awakening yesterday when burglars broke into his home in Buckinghamshire, England and stole nearly $1.9 million dollars in jewelry. But the thieves didn’t get away without an encounter with Ozzy, who wrestled one of the intruders to the floor and pinned him to the ground. But, not wanting to hurt the man, who is being described as 5’10” and stocky, Ozzy allowed him to escape. The burglar then jumped out the window and drove away in a van.

Ozzy and his wife Sharon were sleeping when he heard a noise. Ozzy, who is 55, got up to investigate and found one of the men in Sharon’s dressing room, which adjoins the couple’s bedroom. It was at this point that Ozzy tackled the man. The burglars, who were wearing ski masks, are alleged to have climbed a ladder and entered a second floor window.

The thieves managed to steal Ozzy and Sharon’s wedding rings and a 24-carat sapphire ring that Ozzy bought to mark Sharon’s surviving cancer. The thieves also stole a Cartier watch, Sharon’s 10-carat diamond engagement ring, and several other pieces.

Ozzy told reporters, “It’s not the money, it’s the memories. The moments they have taken from my wife are things you can’t buy, the things that are so precious they are the sum of your life, of your good times and your bad.” Ozzy, who is remembered for his on-stage antics, which included biting the head off a bat, has mellowed in recent years. He told reporters that, although, at one point, he thought he could kill the man to stop him from hurting his wife, he did not want to live with that on his conscience.

None of the Osbourne’s children were home at the time of the incident. Police, who are calling Ozzy's actions 'heroic,' are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the burglars.