9:35am Tuesday 16th March 2010
A TEENAGER was assaulted and nearly £2,000 stolen when a robber targeted a York village shop.
The raider struck at Wigginton Village Stores, forcing his way into the back room and making off with the day’s takings.
Shop assistant Dan Killen, 18, who was thrown to the floor by the robber, said the incident had left him in “complete shock”.
He said: “I do not think, even now, I have come to terms with it.”
Dan had had a routine shift until about 9.20pm on Sunday, when the robber came into the shop in The Village.
He said: “His face was covered and he was walking pretty quickly. Pretty much immediately he went round to the back of the shop and dived into the back room where we keep money and stock.
“I followed him round and when I got to him he had just found what he was looking for. He grabbed it and shoved me out of the way and then legged it.”
Dan’s boss Ann-Marie Jeffery, who runs the shop with her husband, Nick said the raider had made off with between £1,500 and £1,900.
She said: “You just do not believe this will happen to you. Hopefully we can show people you cannot just go in and take what you want and get away with it.
“We are struggling at the moment as Nick has just gone back to work full-time at Autosave. This is his second week and we have been done over.”
The robber is described as white, and about 6ft tall with blond hair. He was wearing brown suede trainers, dark blue jeans, a grey fleece-type jacket with a camouflage hoodie underneath and a beanie hat with a green and blue diamond pattern.
Detective Sergeant Clive Rich, of York CID, said: “Thankfully, the young man who was working in the shop at the time was not hurt.
“However, he was left very shaken by the incident. I believe the offender may be from the local area and would urge anyone who can help identify him or help the investigation to get in touch immediately.”
Anyone with information should phone DS Clive Rich or DC Sarah Bullock on 0845 6060247, quoting reference number 12100039973.
Alternatively, phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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