Knifeman robs off-licence

Sep 10 2009 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

DETECTIVES were yesterday hunting a hooded knifeman who robbed a Paisley off-sales and fled with hundreds of pounds.

The desperate raider threatened a shocked 32-year-old shop assistant with a large blade, thought to be a kitchen knife.

He ordered the employee to put money into a bag and, seconds later, rushed out of the shop with his haul of more than £200 and a stack of cigarettes.

The robbery took place at the Bottles off-sales, in Causeyside Street, at around 8.15pm on Tuesday.

It’s the second time the store has been robbed this year and police are looking into the possibility that the same man is responsible.

Last night, a spokesman for the store offered a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the culprit.

It’s understood that police have CCTV footage of the robber fleeing the scene and hope that will allow them to snare him.

The shop assistant was in the store when the raider, who used the hood of his jacket to cover his face, walked in and pulled out a blade.

One source said: “He waved a large blade at the man behind the counter and ordered him to hand over money. After cash was taken from the till, the assistant was told to put the money into a bag.

“On his way out, the thug grabbed some cigarettes.”

A spokesman for the business said: “Thankfully, the shop assistant was not hurt but he did get a terrible fright. The raider had a large blade with him and it was the size of a kitchen knife.

“This was a very serious incident and that’s why a reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of this robber.”

A customer at a nearby pub added: “I saw the cops at a shop across the road from Bottles and I think they got some video footage from cameras there. It probably caught the robber running across the road.

“This store has been robbed before, I think it was in January this year. On that occasion, several hundreds of pounds was taken and the guy had a knife then too.”

The man police are hunting is about 5ft 7ins tall, has a ‘junkie’ appearance and was wearing a black hooded top and blue jeans.

Last night, in an appeal for witnesses, one officer said: “If anyone saw a man acting suspiciously or loitering outside this Causeyside Street shop on Tuesday, let us know by calling Paisley Police Office on 0141 532 5900 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”