Self-defence in the News - No. 9

Shopkeeper fights off gunman

Shopkeeper fights off gunman

JESSICA SUTTON - Manawatu Standard

11/11/2010

A Palmerston North dairy owner has told of his harrowing ordeal of being hit over the head with a gun during an armed robbery.

Police are still hunting for the man who attacked Seddon Street Food Market owner Raj Patel shortly after 7pm on Tuesday night.

Mr Patel was struck over the head with a gun after a man walked into his store and pointed the firearm at him – telling him to get on the ground.

"I came from the back room when he came in [to the shop]," Mr Patel told the Manawatu Standard.

"He yelled at me and told me to sit down on the ground.

"My wife [Hema] heard the yelling and knew something wasn't right. She managed to press the buzzer which alerted the monitoring company."

The man then hit him on the back of the head twice with the gun, he said. "I had to fight back. I was scared. I tried to find things to hit him with. I think it was then that he saw my wife holding a hockey stick. He must've been scared as he ran off."

Chasing the offender up Manchester St, Mr Patel said the man got into the passenger side of a car.

"It [the car] was obviously waiting for him. We are here for a living and it makes us really upset, but we've got a good community here.

"So many people came out of their homes to see if I was all right. I really want to thank them for their support."

Being back behind the counter yesterday was hard for Mr Patel, who said he was still "shaken" after the ordeal.

"I couldn't understand what he was saying to me. I couldn't understand what he wanted. My family is OK but are a bit shaken by it all. Hopefully police will find him soon."

He said although he didn't know who the man was, he looked "familiar".

"There was no-one else in the shop at the time and there was no-one on the street.

"He did not take anything, so I don't understand."

Police located a female witness yesterday who had said the offender got into the passenger seat of a silver vehicle, believed to be a Subaru.

The woman then followed the offender's vehicle down Aberdeen Ave, into Wood St and into Featherston St, where she lost sight of it.

The man is described as white, of medium build, and wearing a dark-coloured hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan said police were still trying to track down the vehicle.

In April, two men with a knife and a metal bar allegedly threatened the lone female Seddon St store owner, forcing her to hand over the till containing the day's takings. Police later apprehended two men believed to be involved in the April robbery after road spikes were deployed between Tokomaru and Linton.

Anyone with information on Tuesday night's holdup should call Palmerston North Police on 3513600 or on the anonymous Crimestoppers line 0800555111.