Police are hunting a man whose drunken attempt to hold up a Fife store wearing a mask made out of a carrier bag was laughed off by the shopkeeper he tried to raid.
Naveed Akbar, 43, of Abbey News in Dunfermline, was enjoying watching the Ross County v Celtic game on Saturday during a quiet spell when the would-be robber blundered into the shop demanding alcohol.
“He came in with a blue bag on his head with holes cut out of the eyes and immediately crashed into the shopping baskets next to the door so I knew he was drunk straight away.
“Once he picked himself up he told me to give him alcohol which we don’t even stock. I said we don’t sell any so he said OK, well give me all your fags then.
“He then started doing the hard man act but I wasn’t even slightly scared as he was a lot smaller than me and I’ve been playing American football and other sports since I was 13.”
He added: “I told him he had five seconds then I would be phoning the police and he staggered off.”
Mr Akbar said that although he personally hadn’t been frightened he reported the incident to the police as he was concerned the man might go into the neighbouring shops.
The suspected robber is described as white, in his late teens, 5ft 5in and wearing a blue hooded jacket, dark trousers and dark trainers.
He was last seen running along Inchkeith Drive and officers are urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.
Detective Inspector Colin Robson said: “Thankfully, no person was injured in the incident and I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the area around the time and observed any person matching this description or acting suspiciously.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Courier.