Alertness and timely action by the Knighton Road, Hamilton dairy owner, Jaimin Patel, foiled an attempted armed robbery yesterday (Monday) morning at his shop.
Three masked men, armed with screwdrivers and poles, stormed the dairy while their female accomplice held the door open. Patel who was at the counter, immediately pressed the fog cannon button that instantly filled the shop with thick smoke. The group made a hasty retreat from the scene in a waiting car.
This was the second time this dairy was targeted, a similar attempt was made in 2017 also.
Police subsequently arrested five people following this group’s attempted robbery at another dairy on Aberdeen Drive later that day.
Police located a vehicle with the alleged offenders inside, and initiated a pursuit after the offenders failed to stop vehicle. The Nissan Pulsar that was used in the attempted robbery, was found abandoned later in the Temple View area.
But dog handlers and the Eagle helicopter eventually tracked the occupants down after a member of the public called police to report a fleeing group of suspicious looking youngsters.
Five offenders, between the ages of 12 and 17, were apprehended.
The youths have been referred to Youth Aid, while the 17-year-old is due to appear in Hamilton District Court today, charged with assault with intent to rob and unlawfully getting into a vehicle. Police are still trying to locate a sixth person, seen wearing a dark green long sleeve top, as pictured.
