Teens held after attempted robbery in Weymouth (From Dorset Echo)

Teens held after attempted robbery in Weymouth

9:48am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News By Rachel Stretton

A SHOPKEEPER has told how he had a gun pointed at his face and tackled a raider who was wielding a hammer when two youths tried to rob his store.

Roger Hayre, of the Costcutter store on Buxton Road, Weymouth, said he ‘would not tolerate’ people trying to intimidate him or his staff.

Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested following the incident on Sunday evening, a spokeswoman for Dorset Police said.

Mr Hayre, who has owned and run the store for seven years, said he had been faced with a choice of ‘hit or be hit’ when the youths entered his premises.

He said: “One lunged for me twice with the hammer, screaming all sorts of things and I really felt I was going to be injured.

“When I was faced with that threat I had to do something.

“I just had this gut instinct to defend myself.”

Another teenager was armed with what Mr Hayre believed to be a gun.

He said: “I don’t know if it was real, but it was being pointed straight in the face of one of my employees.

“Another youth with a hammer was screaming, telling me to get upstairs in all sorts of language, and he lunged at me with the weapon.

“I ended up fighting with him and managed to get the hammer off him.”

Mr Hayre said the other teen pointed the gun in his face and fired, but nothing happened.

He added: “At that point I think they realised they were not going to get anything, and they ran off.”

The police helicopter and armed response units arrived at the scene within minutes.

Mr Hayre’s wife Polly said the police response had been ‘fantastic’.

She added: “They were here so quickly, they just couldn’t have been any better.”

Mr Hayre said he wanted to send a message to would-be thieves.

“We will not be intimidated or threatened in our place of work – that is something we should not have to put up with.

“We work hard providing a service and earning a living, but we are not an easy target.”

He added: “At the end of the day, I am just very thankful that no one was hurt.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Councillor Geoff Peth-erick, spokesman for community safety, said this type of crime is ‘very rare’ in the resort.

He said: “I would like to reassure the public that the police are very much on top of this, and I am very impressed at the way they have handled it. They are doing a great job.”

Public Reassured That Such Incidents Are Rare

A DORSET Police spokesman said two 16-year-olds from the Weymouth area had been arrested and are helping officers with inquiries.

She added: “At 7.55pm on Sunday, Dorset Police received a report of an alleged attempted robbery at the Costcutter store on Buxton Road, Weymouth.

“The alleged offenders left empty handed.”

Weymouth Deputy Neighbourhood Inspector Neil Wood said: “This type of incident is rare in Weymouth and I would like to reassure the public that officers are working hard to bring those responsible to justice.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Dorset Police on 101.