Rutherglen shopkeeper chases would-be robbers

Dec 12 2012 by Will Henshaw, Rutherglen Reformer

A BRAVE shopkeeper asked two would-be robbers if they were “having a laugh” – then chased them from his store.

Asim Ali, 32, was working last Wednesday at the Day-Today store in Kyle Square, Rutherglen, when the thugs threatened him with a bottle and demanded cash.

However, Asim, who goes to boxing classes at Durie’s gym in Hillhouse Industrial Estate, Cambuslang, didn’t take too kindly to the threat and chased them from the store.

He said: “They came in and one of the guys had a bottle and he shouted at me to open the till.

“I was like, ‘Are youhaving a laugh, mate’ and he threw the bottle and it smashed.

“That was when I went for him and chased him out of the shop.

“The other guy was still in theshop and trying to wreck it. He was chucking things off shelves but then he saw two people working at the post office section and ran off.”

The staff at the Post Office section and two customers, in the shop at the time, were left shaken by the incident although no one was injured.

Asim said this was his firstexperience of trouble in the square.

He added: “I’ve worked in a lot worse places over the years. Usually this is a great wee square and you never see any trouble like that.

“My dad (Raga Ali) owns the shop and I don’t want to see any trouble like that again while he’s about.”

Asim’s efforts for charity have previously featured inReformer. In 2005 he took part in the GreatScottish Run and raised £1000 for Yorkhill Children’s Hospital.

Police are looking for information on the incident and say the culprits were caught on CCTV at the store.The first man is described as white, aged 18-20, 5ft 7in and slim.

The second man is white, 18-20 , 6ft and of medium build.

The pair made off empty-handed in the direction of Castlemilk.

Detective Constable Euan Wallace, who is leading the inquiry, said: “I’d appeal to anyone who may have been in the Post Office at the time to get in touch at Rutherglen CID.”

This is the fourth robbery orattempted robbery in Rutherglen and Cambuslang in the last five weeks.

William Hill on 208-210 Main Street, Cambuslang, was robbed on December 1. On October 31, the William Hill at 41 Main Street, Cambuslang, was also robbed. A 36-year-old has beenarrested over the incident. Coral bookmakers, also on Main Street, was robbed on Friday,November 23 by a man with a knife.

Information on the attack to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.