Jon Hebditch
A brazen thief threatened an Aberdeen shopkeeper before making off with hundreds of pounds from a city convenience store.
Police are now appealing for witnesses after the raid on George Street’s International Shop at around 5.30pm on Friday.
Shop owner Rasa Klimasauskiewe said the man entered with something wrapped up in an envelope before threatening her and stealing between £400 and £600 from the till.
She said the culprit was in the shops for “less than five minutes” before fleeing with the cash.
Ms Klimasauskiewe, visibly shaken by the robbery, said yesterday: “It was very upsetting. I’ve had this shop for four and a half years and nothing like this has happened before.
“It was very fast, he was only here for a few minutes but it was scary.
“He held up a rolled up envelope and I didn’t know what was in it.
“It could have been anything so I gave him what he wanted.”
Although alarmed and shaken by the incident, Ms Klimasauskiewe was uninjured and has reopened the shop for business.
She hopes the man is caught so the money can be returned and has appealed for people to come forward.
Police are now hunting the man and have released a description to aid their investigation.
He is described as aged between 25 and 40, 5ft 4in tall, of medium build with short blond-brown hair. He spoke with a local accent.
He has facial stubble and was wearing a light grey tracksuit top and dark tracksuit trousers.
Detective Sergeant Gary Winter urged anyone who saw anything out of the usual to come forward.
He said: “This happened at a busy time of the evening when people would have been going home from work or using shops in the area.
“We are appealing to anyone who saw anything unusual or suspicious or who has any information in relation to this incident to contact Police Scotland 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”