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Shopkeeper in knife raid terror
Attempted robbery Vanika's Langton Street, Preston
A shopkeeper has relived the terrifying moment robbers burst into his shop and thrust a 10-inch knife to his neck and slashed his hand.
Brave Nitesh Mehta, 33, said he feared he would be murdered when two thugs burst in and pushed a machete against his neck but he fought them off and they fled empty-handed.
Nitesh was behind the counter at his Vanika’s convenience store in Langton Street, Broadgate, Preston, at 8pm on Thursday, when two robbers struck.
He said: “They walked in and one of them put a machete to my neck and said give us your money and asked if I had a safe.
“I told them to calm down, I will give them what they want and it was when I started walk back to the counter he went at me again, when he saw me looking at the bottles.”
Nitesh who has run the shop for nine years his wife Meghal, 29, and recently renamed the shop after his four-year-old daughter, said he feared for his life but bravely fought them off.
He said: “I grappled with one of them who had put the machete to my neck, I was fearing all sorts.
“I have still got a graze on my neck where the blade went, cuts on my fingers and bruises everywhere on my arms and legs. I think he must have kicked me and punched me but it happened so quickly. He was going at me a few times.”
The knife-wielding attacker was described as being white, six-feet tall, with a black hooded top, tracksuit bottoms and a balaclava with a large gap cut into it for his eyes.
His accomplice who kept watch at the door was described as being smaller, of medium build, with a black and grey jacket and a balaclava which had goggles on the hood.
Nitesh said he feared for his life. He said: “I think they had every intention of stabbing me, if they were not going to use it, they would not have put it to my neck and stomach.”
DS John Crichton of Preston police described it as an ‘horrific’ incident and anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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