Shop worker grabs armed raider’s gun (From The Northern Echo)

Off-licence in Tantobie attacked by armed robbers

9:06am Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in Stanley News By Gavin Havery, Reporter (Derwentside & Tyneside)

A WOMAN in her fifties targeted by armed robbers grabbed their handgun and refused to hand over money after they burst into the shop she was working in.

The woman refused to back down when two men burst into the village store as she was locking up at 9.30pm on Saturday.

Colleagues at the Premier store and off-licence in Front Street, Tantobie, Stanley, County Durham, were across the road in the Oak Tree Inn at the time enjoying their Christmas party.

Store owner Marie Singleton, 54, said: “She was really brave to stand up to the robbers.

She grabbed the gun, which one of them was waving about and pointed it away from her face.

“She knew if she could usher the men out of the shop then we would see what was happening because we were having our Christmas do directly opposite.

“My husband, John, saw two men and ran out. They raced off to a car which was driven off at speed, presumably by an accomplice.”

The heroic assistant, who is in her fifties and has asked not to be named, was back at her counter yesterday, but declined to talk about her ordeal.

Mr Singleton said: “She was incredibly brave; she is worth her weight in gold. She was one of two girls in the shop at the time and they refused to hand over any money to the robbers. The other girl is off today – she was really shaken by the ordeal.”

The two men had jumped over the store counter and grabbed cigarettes, but left without any money.

Detective Inspector Brad Howe said: “Neither of the staff were hurt, but were shocked.”

The robber with the handgun was about 5ft 8in and wore a dark jacket, with the hood pulled tight so it covered his face.

The second man was about 5ft 11in, slim, and wore a dark jacket with the hood covering his face, a black scarf over his nose, dark blue tracksuit bottoms and trainers.

Witnesses and anyone who saw a silver Audi with two men inside acting suspiciously near the shop between 8.30pm and 9.30pm are asked to call police on 0345-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-111-555.

The car was driven away in the direction of Burnopfield.