The thug was seen waiting outside for half-an-hour plotting his attack before barging through the shop door, terrifying staff, and stealing £2,000 from the till with police launching an investigation
A terrified shopkeeper was in tears when a thug wielding a meat cleaver burst into a corner shop and demanded money from the till. Police have since launched a probe into the horrifying incident after £2,000 was stolen from the Premier Bathville store in Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland, at around 8.15pm on Thursday.
Shop owner, Abdul Manan, 27, told how the balaclava-wearing brute was seen in CCTV waiting at a bus stop near the shop for half an hour as he planned his sinister attack. He then barged through the door, holding the blade in above his head, as he pushed a member of staff and demanded he open the till.
Abdul said: “It was my staff member Atta that was on when it happened. He was terrified. He phoned me straight away and just started crying apologising to me, saying he should have stopped him.
“I told him, don’t worry. He did the right thing. All I wanted to know was that he was okay. We don’t want somebody getting hurt just for some money. That’s not going to happen. He is still very shaken up, though.”
In CCTV footage captured in the shop, the thug can be seen with his face covered by a black balaclava and wearing a grey and black tracksuit top, with grey joggers and grey Adidas trainers.
He is shown entering the store with the large meat cleaver and pushing Atta – who was tidying up newspapers at the time – against a shelf of vapes.
The thug then threatens the terrified worker, directing the meat cleaver towards him and forcing him to open the till. Brave Atta can be seen calmly standing at the side of the robber before he makes off with nearly £2,000 in cash.
Abdul told the Daily Record: “The police came out within five minutes and forensic officers were here until 2am checking for fingerprints and DNA.
“It’s quite disgusting. It was a very big meat cleaver he had. I’ve seen kitchen knives before but never this.
“We are working hard and times are tough as it is – but for things like this to happen, it’s devastating.”
Abdul says the shop will be hit hard by the robbery and the till will now be emptied every half an hour.
He added: “I don’t think there is any chance we will get this money back. Even if they catch the guy, I don’t think we will get it back.
“It will affect us. We were running short as it was but we will just need to work it out.
“These guys just think they can get away with it – that’s why they keep doing it.
“I just hope the police catch him now so he can’t target anyone else.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police received a report of a robbery at a premises on Lower Bathville in Armadale around 8.20pm on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
“A man threatened staff with a weapon before stealing approximately £2,000 in cash and running off. No-one was injured.
“Officers attended and enquiries are ongoing to trace the man.”