A Fife shopkeeper has told how he was caught up in a terrifying armed robbery whilst watching a movie in his store.
Jatinder Singh was working at Jaesy Off Licence in Burntisland on Friday night when the masked thug entered the shop.
The 49-year-old, who owns the store with his brother, was threatened with a weapon as the thief demanded money and cigarettes.
The terrifying incident was captured on the shop’s CCTV cameras.
Mr Singh said: “I was sitting watching a movie behind the counter when he came into the shop.
“He came round and started shouting ‘give me your money, give me your cigarettes’. He came right up to me. At first I thought it was a joke.
“He told me to put the cigarettes in the bag and to open the till. I was trying to calm him down. I said ‘Are you crazy? What are you doing?’
“I needed a bit of space so I pushed the chair towards him and he moved back.”
During the struggle, Mr Singh managed to press a panic alarm.
The thief, who was wearing a black scarf across his face with a hooded blue jacket, was then startled by a noise and walked out the shop.
He left on a push bike and was followed by Mr Singh, who saw him travelling down James Park Lane which runs parallel to the off-licence.
Police arrived on the scene just minutes later and closed the store to allow for investigation work to be carried out.
On Saturday afternoon, a force spokesman said: “A 37 year old man has been arrested in connection with a robbery at an off-licence on Cromwell Road, Burntisland which occurred around 7.30pm on Friday February 8.
“We would like the thank the public for assisting with our inquiries. The man is expected at court on Monday.”
For more, see Monday’s Courier
