Portsmouth store robbed as armed man chases staff member around the Paulsgrove shop Danny Mart in 'terrifying' attack

The robbery took place at Danny Mart store in Ludlow Road, Paulsgrove at 7.30pm yesterday.

Four men had entered the store, breaking its restriction of just two customers allowed inside at a time, a safety measure put in place to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

The men confronted shop worker Farcas Daniel, before one of the group pulled out what appeared to be a blade.

Farcas said he feared for his life as he tried to escape – as he found himself being chased by the armed man.

He said: ‘It was very scary.

‘I just wanted to get away – I have a few marks on my arm and my back.

‘When I went home, I didn’t sleep, I was so worried. I feel better today.’

The shop worker’s injuries did not require medical treatment.

A customer and female member of staff managed to escape the scene, with the pair informing the police and the shop’s owner, Nandakumar Vayanaperumal.

The 43-year-old businessman said: ‘On the CCTV, you can see (Farcas) was just running, running, running.

‘If he didn’t run I don’t know what would have happened.

‘I have never seen anything like it in my life – it’s unbelievable.’

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He added: ‘This is a lovely area of Pauslgrove. It was just a normal day, we never expected something like this to happen.

‘When someone carries a knife in their pocket, there’s not much you can do – it’s terrifying.

‘We cannot search people, this is a free country.’

Nanda says that two bottles of gin and four packets of cigarettes were stolen during the commotion.

Police have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of robbery, according to a spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary.

He said: ‘We were called at 7.36pm on October 9 to reports of a robbery at a store on Ludlow Road, Paulsgrove.

‘Four men entered the store and confronted the shop worker. One of the men was armed with a knife.

‘A 28-year-old man of no fixed abode has been arrested on suspicion of robbery. He remains in custody at this time.’

The News has seen the CCTV footage but cannot publish it for legal reasons because an arrest has been made.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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