Have-a-go hero’s till of the chase

Date published: 30 August 2012


A HAVE-A-GO hero stood up to an armed robber and won.

Shafqat Hussain, who works at Gujar News on Hollins Road, has been praised by his bosses after wrestling back a till full of cash from the masked raider after being held at knifepoint.

The balaclava-clad thug caused havoc by smashing stock before threatening Shafqat (22) with a kitchen knife and demanding the till.

When Shafqat refused, the raider forced his way behind the counter, grabbed the till and ran off — with brave Shafqat chasing him. The surprised thief dropped the till and fled empty-handed.

Shop manager Sirah Abbas, said: “We told him he shouldn’t have done it because the man had a knife! But he was so brave and he acted like a true hero.”

Dedicated Shafqat is now back behind the till: “He is a great employee and we can’t thank him enough,” said Sirah.

The raider was white, in his mid-30s and of medium build. He wore a dark hooded top.

Detective Constable Simon Moyles said: “It is thanks to the victim’s courage that nothing was eventually stolen.

Anyone with information about the incident on the afternoon of August 19, should call police on 0161-856 8951 or anonymously on 0800-555 111.


READ the full version of this story only in our print and eChron editions
Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle