Ingrow shopkeeper hits robber with his till (From Keighley News)

Ingrow shopkeeper hits robber with his till

4:00pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Miran Rahman

A defiant Keighley shopkeeper sent an armed robber packing by hurling part of his cash till at him.

Ronald King, of Ingrow Bridge Mini Mart, said he wasn’t an aggressive person, but was so angered by the robber’s demands he decided to fight back.

The raider, who struck at the Halifax Road convenience store at 7.40pm on Saturday, fled empty-handed after coming under attack.

Mr King, 56, said: “I was just at the back locking up when I heard someone come in – I didn’t think anything about his head being covered because it was cold.

“I was heading back to the counter when he told me to empty my till. I said to him ‘Why me? I only opened up three weeks ago’. But all he kept saying was ‘empty your till’.

“I moved behind the counter and got some distance between him and me. He was holding his hands together and I didn’t know what he had.

“I asked him what he’d do if I didn’t give him the money, and he showed me he was holding a knife.

“I’d taken out the till tray containing change and he said ‘No, not that, I want the notes’. I said ‘You want my money?’ then chucked the whole tray at him.

“He just scarpered. I gave him a bit of time to get to the door, just in case, then I looked out and saw him running off.”

Courageous Mr King said the robber fled southwards down Halifax Road. “I’m just relieved I wasn’t injured and that no one else was hurt,” he added. “It’s a pretty good result.”

Detectives are appealing for anyone with information, or any witnesses, to come forward. The suspect is described as a white man aged 18 to 20, of slim build and about 5ft 6in tall.

He was wearing dark head covering, a dark-coloured coat and a blue backpack.

Contact Detective Constable Mick Ineson on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 with any information about the incident.