Shop worker fends off knife-wielding robber with baseball bat

A shop worker at a Widnes convenience store used a baseball bat to fend off an armed robber.

The incident happened at the Hough Green store on Ditchfield Road on 17 February.

A man wearing a balaclava walked into store at around 10.10pm, brandishing a knife and demanding that staff open the till, Cheshire Police said.

One of the members of the staff confronted the offender, arming himself with a baseball bat – an act that forced the attacker to flee the store empty-handed.

“Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of this incident and nothing was stolen from the convenience store,” said Detective Sergeant Henderson Pierre, of Widnes Local Policing Unit.

“However, it was a terrifying incident for those who were in the store at the time the attempted robbery took place.”

Police urged anyone with any information or footage regarding the suspect, who was seen going towards the Hammer and Pincers pub on foot after the incident, to come forward.

“Enquiries are ongoing and as part of our investigation we want to speak to anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything that may be relevant,” Pierre said.

“We also want to hear from anyone who believes they may know who the offender is, or have CCTV or dashcam footage of him.”

Anyone with information or footage that may help the investigation should call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting IML 639939, give the details via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.