Shopkeeper feared for his life during armed raid in Forfar

Search for masked man – while suspect arrested after Fife robbery

Two traders have shared their terrifying ordeals after their corner shops in Angus and Fife were held up by armed robbers at the weekend.

Jatinder Singh, who owns the Jaesy Off Licence on Cromwell Road in Burntisland with his brother, set off a panic alarm using a half bottle of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum when his shop was targeted on Friday evening.

Police said a man was due in court today in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Angus shopkeeper Lalit Sharma has told how he feared for his life when a masked man burst into his Forfar shop and demanded money in a late-night attack on Saturday.

Mr Sharma was working in the Premier Shop on Glenogil Terrace in Gallowshade when the man walked in brandishing what appeared to be a hammer at 8.50pm.

Still visibly shaken yesterday, the 46-year-old said: “He just rushed in with what looked like a hammer and was saying ‘money, money, money’. I couldn’t see his face as it was covered by some sort of woollen mask, all I could see was his eyes.

“I opened the till and gave him some money, he grabbed it and ran out.

“I was frightened for my safety and the safety of my staff. I couldn’t sleep last night. I am still upset about it.”

The police made an urgent appeal for information to try to trace the culprit, who made off with an undisclosed sum of money.

He was seen turning left out of the shop and running away in Glenogil Terrace where he was lost to sight.

He was slim and was wearing a black jacket, hooded top, dark face mask, gloves, dark grey trousers and black footwear.

Jatinder Singh set off the panic alarm after his shop in Burntisland was targeted in a raid on Friday.