Shopkeeper threatened with knuckle duster by thief who steals alcohol twice in the space of an hour from store

The first incident took place at around 9.40pm when the man first entered the family-ran store on Thorndale Road before making off with lager.

He then returned less than an hour later, at around 10.30pm, and was confronted by a staff member as he tried to leave with two bottles of wine.

It is alleged that the man threatened the store worker with a knuckle duster before fleeing the scene during the second incident.

Abi Jayaratnam, 21, is the manger of the shop, she has told the Echo that it was her 54-year-old dad who was threatened and she worries that the local community will be scared to use the store.

She said: “People steal stuff all the time but this time the threatening behaviour, especially over some lager and wine, has really shook us up.

"It was my dad, Jamee, who was threatened by the man – he is shook up by it. We are worried that he might come back.

"It is a place that serves loads of people in the local community and we don’t want people to be put off coming to us because they might not feel safe.”

Police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident and inquires to locate the suspect are currently ongoing.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are investigating after a man stole alcohol from the Thorndale Convenience Store on two separate occasions on Saturday evening.

“It was reported that the man first entered the shop at about 9.40pm and made off with lager before he returned at about 10.30pm and made off with two bottles of wine.

"During the second incident he allegedly threatened a staff member with a knuckle duster before fleeing the shop. The incident was reported to police on Monday and enquiries to identify and locate the suspect are ongoing.

"Anyone with any information that could assist police is asked to call 101 quoting crime number 80771U/20.”

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