‘Brave’ Norwich shopkeeper fends off armed robbers with chair
Shopkeeper Kuganeswaran Shanmugam defended his off licence in Heigham Street, Norwich, from armed would-be robbers - Credit: Harriet Orrell
A man has described his cousin as 'very brave' after he used a fold-up chair to fend off two would-be armed robbers.
Heigham News and Off Licence in Heigham Street, Norwich. - Credit: Harriet Orrell
Shopkeeper Kuganeswaran Shanmugam was confronted by two people holding knives in his small convenience store on Heigham Street, Norwich, on Saturday, December 9.
The pair demanded money from Mr Shanmugam, who owns Heigham News and Off Licence, however he refused to hand anything over.
'Around 8pm a boy and a girl entered the store wearing grey trousers and grey hoodies, they looked identical, and they both had knives,' said Mr Shanmugam's cousin, Shan Shanthakumar.
'[Initially] he was just ignoring them, but then it became more serious and my cousin became a bit panicked.
Shopkeeper Kuganeswaran Shanmugam defended his off licence in Heigham Street, Norwich, from armed would-be robbers - Credit: Harriet Orrell
You may also want to watch:
'He grabbed a fold up chair from behind the counter and the two people with knives ran away.'
Mr Shamugam, who speaks limited English, enlisted the help of a customer who was in the off licence at the time of the incident to call the police who quickly arrived at the scene.
Most Read
- 1 Centre takes action after IT failure causes long queues for Covid jab
- 2 Can you rehome this Terrier who has spent nine years at animal sanctuary?
- 3 Drink driver arrested after crashing into two trees in Norwich
- 4 Covid rates continue to fall across Norfolk, especially in Norwich
- 5 9 of Norfolk's most famous blue plaques
- 6 Four fire crews called to car blaze in Norwich garage
- 7 The secrets and scandals of a former Norwich hotel
- 8 Norfolk woman fined after travelling 200 miles to visit daughter
- 9 Map reveals the most serious crashes on the NDR since it fully opened
- 10 Fired twice in two months: Events boss feels the pain of Covid
'It all happened within about half a minute. My cousin was very brave,' added Mr Shanthakumar.
Police have charged two people in connection with the robbery bid.
Ben Ashford, of Rackham Road, Norwich, and Katie Lane, of Shorncliffe Avenue, Norwich, who are both 25, were arrested on Monday are accused of robbery and possession of a knife in a public place.
Lane was also charged in connection with a separate robbery at a shop in Bowers Avenue in the city on Monday.
A member of staff was threatened, but once again nothing was stolen.
Both were remanded in custody and appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court yesterday morning. The cases were adjourned until next month.
