Small Heath shopkeepers fought back at armed robbers

Aug 12 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

“We were worried about the customers and were just trying to do whatever we could to stop them. This is our business, they can’t just come in here and take what they want. We were trying to make a stand.

“I tried to trap them in the store until police could arrive by bringing the shutters down but some of them got away.”

The incident happened at the Coventry Road store at 4.40pm on Monday.

Some of the gang escaped in a Vauxhall Vectra, registration number R893 VHE, driven by another man.

The getaway car, which has no registered owner, was later found dumped in nearby Oldknow Road and is being examined.

Det Insp Simon Vowles, from Stechford CID, said: “We need to trace these three men and I appeal to those who know them to give us their names.

“There was quite a struggle inside the store and the shopkeepers clearly acted in self defence.

“They have come to the aid of customers who must have been terrified. They were very brave and while we would praise their actions, it is not something we would encourage people to do.”

Birmingham has seen a spate of attacks on Asian jewellers stores in recent years. Last year a shopkeeper was kidnapped from his home and driven to his store but the gang fled empty-handed when the alarm went off.

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Stechford CID on 0845 113 5000 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.

* A man was due to appear in court today charged with robbery in connection with the incident.