Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
CRASH & CARRY
Trio arrested after shocking CCTV images capture the moment ram-raiders smashed car into store’s shutters
A devastated Airdrie shopkeeper has described the moment he arrived to see his Petersburn premises ram-raided and burgled in the middle of the night.
Naveed Amjed’s Day Today store was
targeted last week, with a significant quantity of alcohol taken during the raid.
The shop’s CCTV footage shows a car being driven into the front shutters several times before two males get out of the vehicle and force entry while a third man sets fire to the car then crosses the road to a waiting van.
Thankfully, the blaze didn’t spread to the building and emergency services arrived quickly at the scene and extinguished the burning vehicle.
Just minutes earlier, the same vehicle had been driven into the shutters of the Post Office in Caldercruix in an unsuccessful attempt to gain entry there.
Naveed, 47, told the Advertiser: “I got a phone call from my alarm company just after 4am saying three laser zones had been activated. Straight away I knew someone was inside the shop.
“I rushed to the scene and saw police cars and a fire engine and was initially worried someone had set the building on fire.
“Then I saw the state of the shutter and the car and knew it was a ram-raid.
“The vehicle had been set on fire, so in some ways I guess I’m lucky the car didn’t get stuck in the shutter space and burn the building down.”
A large quantity of alcohol was taken during the early morning incident. And dad-of-three Naveed continued: “They took around £ 400 of Buckfast and vodka. So it was a lot of effort and destruction just to get some alcohol.
“I’ve been in the area for 26 years and this is the first time a burglary has happened to me.
“It’s a lot of hassle, as all I’m trying to do is make an honest living.”
Despite the car being driven into the front entrance of the shop, the damage is now repaired and the shop open for business.
And Naveed praised his regular customers for their assistance.
He said: “People have been coming into the shop saying they were really worried about me and offering their help.
“There are so many genuine people in Airdrie but there are always a few everywhere who are selfish and try to ruin it.
“But the Petersburn community have been great and I want to thank them for all their support as it has been a very stressful few days.”
It was a lot of effort and destruction just to get some alcohol