'˜Go on, get out!': Shopkeeper Gina, 71, foils armed robber

PENSIONER Gina Stent fought off an armed robber after he demanded she hand over cash.
Gina's in Clayhall Road GosportGina's in Clayhall Road Gosport
Gina's in Clayhall Road Gosport

The 71-year-old was working alone in her popular corner shop Gina’s, in Clayhall Road, in Gosport, when the masked knife-wielding man walked into the shop backwards.

Gina, whose family have run the shop since before the Second World War, said she was instantly suspicious of him but went to the counter to serve him.

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But then the man put a lime green bag and the knife on the counter and demanded she fill the bag with cash.

Gina, who was the victim of a robbery at the shop about four years ago, told The News: ‘He said “put the money in the bag” and he’s all covered up with a balaclava and everything.

‘I just thought: oh God, not again, don’t be ridiculous – get out.

‘He came round behind the counter. He’s pushing me, I’m pushing him.

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‘I’m saying “go on, get out!” and he went – it was as simple as that.’

Gina told police the man fled on a blue and white bike after the incident last Monday at around 5.15pm.

Police are treating the incident as an attempted robbery.

Gina said when the man came round to the counter he had picked up the knife again. She added: ‘He had the knife in one hand, his bag in the other.

‘He was pushing at me and I was pushing back. Most people would. It all depends on the circumstances.

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‘He wasn’t much taller than me, if he’d been really big I wouldn’t have.

‘If they were really going to do this they would come in crash, bang, wallop – I’d be on the floor.’

Gina thinks the whole incident lasted about two minutes.

‘It was over so quickly really, I just thought: oh God, not again, I’m not putting up with this,’ she added.

The would-be robber struck a few hours before the England v Slovakia match last week. Gina added: ‘I just thought he might have wanted some cash to get some beer to watch the game.’

She said he was wearing a navy waterproof that was much too big for him.

He was 5ft 6in, slim, and was wearing a black wool balaclava and black tracksuit bottoms. Call police on 101.