Brave shop staff fight off armed raiders

Sep 19 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

A GROUP of brave shopworkers sent a gang of armed robbers packing as they opened fire in an armed hold-up.

Four masked thugs brandishing a firearm and baseball bat burst into a mobile phone shop on Green Lane, Small Heath, and ordered staff to hand over cash.

But a group of furious workers in the store stood up to them and fought back.

The courageous workers, who outnumbered the four robbers, grappled with them in a bid to force them out of the shop.

During the altercation it is believed a shot was fired in the air.

A shopworker was hit over the head with a baseball bat as the bungling gang, dressed all in black, tried to flee.

He was tried at hospital for a superficial head wound and later discharged.

Det Sgt Mark Burnell, from the Stechford robbery team, said the four men fled empty-handed following the botched raid at about 10.55am yesterday.

"A number of masked offenders have entered the premises and demanded money," he said. "But the staff said 'no' and fought back. The gang probably thought they could get the better of the owner but were outnumbered.

"The shopworkers were quite brave but we would advise people not to do anything that could put themselves at risk or result in them being injured themselves."

Local roads, including Green Lane and Charles Road, were closed while police conducted inquiries and searched the scene for clues.

The incident was witnessed by a large number of people in the area. Robbery detectives were today going through their statements.

In July, the Birmingham Mail told how brave shopkeeper Rashpal Mattu gave a gun-toting robber the brush off when her chased him out of his convenience store by battering him with a broom.

Mr Mattu, 60, was in Kingsbridge Wines, in Bartley Green, when the robber burst in. He fled empty-handed after being hit over the back.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 113 5000.