THIS is the dramatic moment a brave shopkeeper fended off a terrifying machete-wielding raider armed with only a MOP.
Plucky owner Dinesh Gorania beat off the masked man – who was ‘dressed like something out of a horror film’ – as he tried to force his way into the convenience store he runs with his family.
Dinesh and son Kishan had been getting ready to shut up their shop, the Premier Store in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on Friday when three masked men pulled up in a car.
Unsuspecting Dinesh was mopping up just inside the doorway and Kishan was bringing in signs from outside the store when one of the men got out and charged towards the shop.
The masked man, armed with a two-foot machete burst into the store but fearless Dinesh bravely struck him with the mop, forcing the bandit backwards.
The man tried twice more to get back into the shop but Dinesh used the mop to repeatedly hit him, while Kishan grabbed a hockey stick to help keep the man away.
Two other masked men got out of the car to join the first man, with one throwing a metal bar at Dinesh which he manage to block with his forearm.
After sending the robbers packing, they went back into their car, pulled around the corner and the first man got out of the car and smashed the windows of Dinesh’s van and Kishan’s car.
Kishan, 21, said they were lucky that the only damage to the shop had been to the front door.
He said: “They were hitting the door, smashing the door in and Dad was hitting them back with the mop. Dad did good, he did well. He just jumped at it, quick time.”
Dinesh said: “After my son said ‘there are robbers coming’ I got the mop and hit him, I wasn’t giving them the chance to hit me first.
“He fell back straight away. He tried to get back in but I wouldn’t let him.
“I wasn’t scared – I just wanted to defend my shop – but I could see that he was a scary person, he was dressed like something from a horror movie.”
Dinesh, who has run the store for 20 years, said he hoped the men were caught and dealt with.
He said: “Shopkeepers work hard, 16-hour days, and this shop is open seven days a week, and then these people come and mess about. I’m just trying to pay the bills.
“I don’t want it, I’m 52 and I want a peaceful life.
The most important thing is them being caught. If they are not caught they will carry on and give someone a serious injury.”
He said neighbours had rushed to the store afterwards to offer their support.
He said: “They are really good people around here, I’m proud they are my neighbours.”
Northamptonshire Police confirmed that they are investigating the incident, which happened last Friday just before 10pm.
They launched an appeal yesterday/on Monday for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.
