There were five of them, all armed with crowbars and wooden cudgels.
Five against two; not bad odds when the two consisted of an ex-soldier and a high functioning sociopath.
Following them in through the staff entrance of the hotel, it was necessary to catch them in the act of trying to break into the Manager's safe. Mycroft and the Icelandic Ambassador would accept nothing less than eyewitness evidence.
Pausing in their pursuit, Sherlock stepped into an unlocked linen cupboard, returning seconds later with a single sheet, which he tucked inside his coat.
John looked at him and frowned. He leaned slightly closer.
"I don't intend hanging around for my brother to arrive." He whispered. "We photograph them in the act, disarm them, then tie them up with this sheet."
"Are you sure Mycroft and Ambassador Runnersonn will be okay with that?" John whispered back.
"Don't care."
They moved on.
The five were already in the office, and were taken completely by surprise when the twin flashes of Sherlock and John's phone cameras caught them in the act of trying to jemmy the safe.
After a brief scuffle John stood holding the villains at gunpoint while Sherlock tore strips off the sheet and tied them up.
They left them there, locking the door behind them.
Sherlock grimaced. "Well, that was boring!"