Aberdeen police have issued CCTV footage of the moment a would-be thief tried to raid a city store armed with a knife.
Joney Joey, manager of Froghall Stores on Froghall Terrace, had just opened up his shop when the man came in.
When he pulled a “foot long” knife on Mr Joey and demanded money and cigarettes, the shopkeeper fended him off with a golf club.
Police have now launched an appeal to the public to help them find the man.
At the time, Mr Joey, said: “Somebody was waiting outside the door with a hoodie on and I thought he must be cold or something, so I opened the shop for him.
“He asked me for cigarettes, so I went behind the counter to get them for him. He handed over the money, and then he took out a knife from a big blue bag.
“With the handle, I would say the knife was about a foot long.”
“I told him that since I had just opened the shop I didn’t have money in the till. I moved back, grabbed the massive golf club that I have in the back, so I took it and scared him and he left.
“I was a bit scared at the time, but I’m over him now. You can’t just hand over things to these guys.”
The would-be robber is described as being in his 30s, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 9ins. He spoke with a local accent.
On the day he was wearing a white hoodie, dark trousers and carrying a “Q-Serv” holdall.
Yesterday, Detective Inspector Lorna Ferguson – who is leading the investigation – said: “The person in the image is wearing a very distinctive jacket and I would urge anyone who recognises the male depicted in the CCTV to make contact with the Police.”
The incident took place at 8.15am on Friday, December 12. Police have described the man as wearing a light hooded top, dark trousers, and between 30 to 40 years old.
Labour councillor for the area, Nathan Morrison, said: “Naturally anybody who could have seen it or knows the person who done it should come forward. We are talking about people’s lives here that are being put at risk by actions like that, especially at this time of the year.
“It is the only shop around there, it provides a nice service in their own community.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.