An armed raider held up a popular convenience store in the west end of Dundee last night, prompting a major police response in the Blackness
Road area.
A male wearing a hoodie, and with the lower part of his face covered, burst into the Aneka newsagent and off-licence brandishing a knife shortly after 7.30pm.
He approached a female shop assistant and demanded money from the till.
The staff member screamed for help before the intruder made off empty-handed.
Shop-owner Amin Mohamed Amin, 56, said he had never had any trouble in the 20 years he has been in business.
He said: “I am just glad no one was hurt. This is a lovely, friendly neighbourhood. It all happened very quickly.”
Eight police vehicles, police sniffer dogs and CID officers attended, with investigations centred on one tenement block.
Officers checked CCTV footage from neighbouring shops and searched bins.
A staff member in the Balgay Convenience store, who did not wish to be named, said: “I’ve been told a guy went into the shop across the road with a knife and he is now in hiding.”
Erin Brackenridge, 21, a hairdresser at Caryn Easton, said she was “shocked” as the incident unfolded in the street.
“I was in the shop with a customer and we were a bit concerned when we saw all the police cars speeding past with their lights on.”
Police Scotland confirmed they attended in the area of Blackness Road at around 7.30pm to a report of an attempted robbery.
“Officers are following a positive line of inquiry and confirm there is no threat to the wider public,” they said.
“Should any member of the public have any information they are asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 and quote incident number 3549 April 9 2019.”