Machete thugs ‘are just lost kids who need help’
A SHOP owner has vowed not to be beaten by machete-wielding thugs who raided his store.
Shop owner Dharmendra Patel and his wife, Snehal, say they won’t be put off from serving their community after their shop was victim to an armed robbery.
The two robbers entered the Premier
Express store on Acre Street, Lindley , and brandished machetes.
They demanded cash and other items, before making off in the direction of the nearby Bay Horse pub.
Mr Patel was working behind the counter when the robbery happened, at around 7.40pm on Monday 9 March.
He told YorkshireLive: “They wandered in in a fairly relaxed fashion and walked about the store. There was a customer in the store at the time which may have put them off.
“They then took their machetes out and demanded cash and a couple of other items. The whole thing lasted maybe three minutes.
“We reported everything to the police, who have visited us, and we have some clear images of the perpetrators from our CCTV.”
Mr Patel is hopeful that the robbers can be caught - for their own safety.
“I think these two were opportunists. It was dark and rainy, with not many people about, and they saw the opportunity.
“To me, they are just two kids who are completely lost. They were aged about 18 to 21 and I just think they need help.
“One day they could take it too far. They are walking around with machetes and even though I am sure they don’t intend to use them, something much worse could eventually happen.”
Since the incident, Mr Patel and his wife have received an outpouring of support from their customers and other local residents.
“Our customers and the local community have been wonderful in supporting us.
“We have had so much support from our neighbours and others from further afield and we are very grateful for that.”
Mr Patel added: “It’s the first time in 20 years of owning the shop that something like this has happened to us.
“Lindley is a lovely area and you don’t expect something like that to happen, but incidents like this are thankfully rare.”
Asked whether he’s concerned it will happen again, Mr Patel remained stoic.
“Who knows?” he said. “We are here to do our job and serve our community. We won’t be perturbed.”
The suspects described as around 5’ 6” tall.
One of the perpetrators was black, the other mixed race.
They both wore hooded tops and surgical face masks. One wore a white glove on his right hand.
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