Shop Owner Uses Stick to Repel Knife Robber Amidst Spate of Attacks

A proprietor of a shop has recounted his use of a stick to fend off an individual suspected of involvement in a sequence of knifepoint robberies. Derbyshire Police has made public CCTV footage following a series of robberies that occurred at various retail establishments in Derby and Ilkeston during the last five weeks. The video depicts one shopkeeper defending themselves with a mop, and Subash Moorkath employing a stick. A woman reported that a man armed with a knife stole her and her husband’s passports. The police force has stated that its inquiries are continuing. CCTV footage displayed Mr. Moorkath confronting an intruder with a stick, which he typically uses for opening the shutters of his shop located in Chaddesden. “I was standing at the counter, and a guy who was a bit taller than me walked in with all his face covered and an orange hoodie,” he said.”He came [round the counter] to actually get into the till, but by the time I pressed the panic button [he saw] I had a big stick as well.” “I chased him out with the stick – as soon as he realised I was coming behind him, he started running off.” Mr. Moorkath stated that he acted on instinct to pursue the man, who departed without taking anything before allegedly targeting other locations. “All this happened in just a few seconds of time – I didn’t really get any time to think of it [as] frightening,” he said.”I just reacted in the moment.” Thilaxshana Thiyagarasa recounted that she was inspecting inventory in her Chaddesden shop one evening when she observed a masked man entering and shouting. “I thought he [might be] as he was shouting,” she said.”It’s so scary, and I couldn’t even shout because he had a knife.” Ms. Thiyagarasa reported that the man removed cash from the till, in addition to her purse, which held her bank cards and the passports belonging to both her and her husband. She mentioned that she now avoids working during nighttime hours following the occurrence. Kevin Mason’s family has operated their Chaddesden shop for five decades, with him managing it since 1987. He stated that an employee was working when a man entered and menaced her with a knife. After attempting to compel her to open a safe for which she lacked keys, he absconded with cigarettes and vapes. Mr. Mason indicated that he had employed additional staff because other employees “are frightened stiff,” but expressed hope that the local community would unite. “This is a close-knit area, [and] I’m hoping our community can find this guy,” he said.”Crimestoppers are now involved; there’s £1,000 available for someone who can provide information – I hope our community comes together, let’s them know who this man is, and hopefully get him caught and taken off the streets.” Detective Sergeant Jack Gibbs of Derbyshire Police reported that officers are “working around the clock on this series of robberies,” which has now reached a total of eight assaults on off-licences and smaller retail outlets following an additional incident in Oakwood on November 7. He mentioned that intelligence supplied by a member of the public resulted in one arrest for conspiracy to commit robbery, with the individual subsequently released on bail, and urged the public for assistance. “The offender is [acting] quite callously, targeting the shopkeepers at knifepoint, and is forcing them to exchange cash and any sort of consumable goods that they can get their hands on,” he said. “One of the good things we have is we have some really good quality CCTV, which covers each offence, and through that there are some really key and consistent characteristics about the way this offender goes about his criminality.” “Certain aspects are his gait, his build, how he carries himself, the communication he has with shopkeepers at the offences, and there are certain other lines of inquiry that we’re really interested in which are consistent throughout.” “We’re really confident that somebody out there in the community has that crucial bit of information that we need.” Further reporting was provided by Owen Shipton. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.