CCTV: Shopkeeper Scares Off Armed Robbers

Police have released footage of a shopkeeper in Birmingham putting two armed robbers to flight.

The masked men enter the Vardon Supermarket in Kings Norton and the footage shows one threaten the shopkeeper with what appears to be a handgun.

They demand money but after opening the till the storekeeper activates the alarm and grabs a baseball bat.

He threatens the robbers who make off with nothing more than a crate of beer and a mobile phone.

Both men are described as white, in their 20s, around 5ft 10 to 6ft tall and thinly built.

One was wearing a blue jacket, a hooded top and tracksuit bottoms. The other wore a black jacket and black tracksuit bottoms.

Investigating officer DC Katie Morris said: "This was a violent and frightening robbery by two men who had no regard for the safety of the shopkeeper or his customers.

"The shopkeeper acted bravely to defend his livelihood and in this case it paid off, but the reality is this could have ended in tragedy.

"We would not recommend acts of heroism when confronted by a potentially loaded gun."

The robbery happened just after 7.30pm on Tuesday 6 January.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact West Midlands Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.