A masked crook who fled the scene of a bungled robbery after a brave shop assistant wrapped him into a bear hug is being hunted by the police.
The 30-year-old hero at Hob Moor News in Small Heath put an end to the daylight raid when he saw the robber pull out a metal bar following a demand for cash.
It has been shocking for us and shocking for our neighbours.
The desperate thug freed himself from the physical restraint that lasted almost a minute and rushed out of the shop door, left ajar by a customer.
The armed robber, clad in dark trousers and a hoodie on the day of the raid, is believed to be in his early 20s.
The brave shop worker who wishes to remain anonymous is now back at work according to store manager Choudhry Khan, having suffered minor hand and mouth injuries in the incident.
The business owner, 38, who opened the shop on Hob Moor Road only seven months ago, said: “He was behind the counter when the robber walked in with his face covered, he could just see his eyes.
“He was carrying a man-bag and walked behind the counter and demanded my assistant put all the money in it.
“When he said no, the attacker pulled out a very heavy metal bar from behind his back and then tried to hit my assistant on the head.
Mr Khan said: “My assistant managed to grab hold of the bar and with the other hand grabbed the young man and held on as they fought.”
He was behind the counter when the robber walked in with his face covered, he could just see his eyes.
He added: “This was such a shocking incident, we only opened seven months ago. It has been shocking for us and shocking for our neighbours.”
The robber’s bag and metal bar have been seized to undergo forensic analysis according to a spokesman for West Midlands Police.
Detective Constable Lawrence Shannon said: “This was a nasty attack that left the shopkeeper very shaken up by what happened. We would ask anyone with information or any witnesses to come forward and contact us as soon as possible.”
