Two women shop assistants endured a terrifying New Year's Day ordeal as hooded thugs armed with foot-long knives raided a newsagents.
Raid - Kanagaratnam Fekaran's two women staff were terrorised Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
The robbery took place at Laceys, in Kents Hill Road, Benfleet, at 9pm when two men burst in each brandishing blades.
One of them grabbed a 20-year-old worker and led her at knife-point into the shop's back office in search of a safe. The other robber stayed with the second assistant, also 20.
The search ended after the assistant said she didn't know where the safe was. The culprits fled after snatching £200 from the till, 14 packets of cigarettes and ten pouches of tobacco.
Store manager Kanagaratnam Fekaran, 42, who lives behind the shop, said: "The girls were terrified."
PC Kevin Hemsworth said: "This was a terrible crime which left the girls very shaken. Anyone who has any information should contact Benfleet CID on 01268 756221."
Published Friday January 2, 2004
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