Balaclava-Clad Robber Threatens Shopkeeper With Knife in Late-Night Raid

A masked robber entered a convenience store, brandished an eight-inch knife, and demanded cash from the till during a late-night raid last Thursday. The incident occurred shortly before the Go Local Extra store in Shiney Row, Tyne and Wear, was scheduled to close.

CCTV footage shows the robber, wearing a balaclava, a tracksuit, and gardening gloves, burst into the store. The individual placed a bread container in front of the door, preventing it from being locked. The robber then approached the till and waved the knife at the cashier, identified as Abi, demanding all the money be placed in a bag.

Abi, who had recently joined the shop, initially refused to hand over the money, attempting to delay the robber by pretending to open the till, possibly in the hope that a customer would arrive. The cashier also tried to activate a lock on the electric door by reaching for a button, but the door jammed on the bread box.

After more than a minute of the robber's repeated demands and pointing the knife, Abi surrendered approximately £200 from the till. The robber then quickly exited the store with the cash.

Sin, the 23-year-old owner of the family-run store, which opened in February, was alerted to the robbery by a distressed call from Abi. He stated that this was the first time a staff member had been threatened with a weapon. Sin mentioned that he had emptied out most of the cash from the till earlier that night, limiting the amount the robber could take.

Upon arriving at the store, Sin found Abi shaken and speechless. The owner emphasized that the safety of his staff was paramount, and Abi's decision to hand over the money was the correct one to ensure his safety.

Following the incident, the local community has shown strong support for the store. Many well-wishers visited over the weekend to check on the welfare of Abi and other staff members. Some community members have also provided potential clues regarding the robber's identity, which are being shared with the police.

Northumbria Police confirmed they received a report of the robbery shortly before 11 p.m. on Thursday. A man reportedly entered the shop, threatened a staff member with a bladed article, and took a quantity of cash before fleeing the scene. The victim was uninjured but left shaken.