A brave trader has told how he fended off a machete-wielding teenager who was attempting to hold up his shop.
Zafar Qayuom said he grappled with the would-be raider after he stormed into the Nickel and Dime store in Fraserburgh’s Broad Street and demanded he hand over the contents from the till.
The thief broke free and escaped empty-handed, sparking a police hunt.
Officers taped off the area following the drama and were appealing for help to catch the culprit last night.
Assistant manager Mr Qayuom said he had been left badly shaken by the attack and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“If the other staff hadn’t been here, I don’t know what would have happened to me,” he said.
Mr Qayuom said the day had begun like any other, with himself and two members of staff opening up the former supermarket, which now sells an assortment of general purpose items and gifts, at 9am.
“The ladies were at the shelves at about 10am when I saw this guy come into the shop,” he said.
“He got a drink and came to pay, but when I went to hand him his five pence change he said ‘stop, give me all the money’.
“I saw the tip of a machete, so I said ‘OK, no problem’.”
However, instead of handing over any cash, Mr Qayuom distracted the teenager by calling for help from his colleagues before grabbing on to his hooded top.
His assailant managed to escape by wriggling free and caused about £100 of damage to the shop’s front door when he forced his way out.
He was last seen running towards the North Braehead area of the town.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information on the attempted robbery to come forward.
The culprit was in his late teens and between 5ft 8-5ft 10 in height.
He was wearing a hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms and a black baseball cap with a white motif.
Brian Topping, the chairman of the town’s community safety group, said he was appalled by the crime.
He said: “It is quite horrifying. The shopkeeper must be in a terrible state.
“I don’t know why anyone would have a machete, but I am hopeful that other people come forward and other shops’ CCTV can help catch this very dangerous person.”
Anyone who was in the area is asked to call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.