It seems a British shopkeeper defended herself against would-be burglars, thanks to her cup of tea.
Extra extra read all about it!
5FT SHOPKEEPER FIGHTS OFF THIEVES WITH A CUP OF TEA
Mrs Patel threw her tea at the thieves
Friday December 12,2008
By Dana Gloger
A PETITE woman shopkeeper fought off two knife-wielding robbers using her cup of tea.
Varsha Patel, 45, hurled the steaming cuppa into the face of one of the men then threw the empty mug at the other’s head.
Mrs Patel, who is just 5ft, was about to grab a bottle of whisky to throw at them too – but the pair fled with just a scratch-card dispenser between them.
Yesterday she told how she frightened off the balaclava-wearing burglars at the Kensworth Village Store in Beds, which
she runs with her husband Yogesh.
She said: “I was scared afterwards but at the time I just reacted on instinct.
“You don’t know how you will react in these situations until they happen but I have never been one to sit back and let people bully me.
“I am glad they ran away – I don’t know what would have happened if there had been a stand-off.”
Mrs Patel was in the shop on her own when the robbers attacked. She said: “They ran in and I just saw two arms coming at me as he tried to grab the scratch-card dispenser, which is glued to the counter.
“I think he said, ‘Give it to me’ but his voice was muffled by the balaclava.
“I was just about to take my first sip of tea and threw the contents in his face as he came towards me.
“He staggered back a bit and his friend was still hanging around so I threw my empty mug at his face. I stepped back to grab a bottle of spirits and then they backed off and ran out.”
She chased the men out of the shop but they made off in a blue Peugeot. The dispenser had around 1,000 Lottery scratch cards, which Mrs Patel immediately cancelled with Camelot.
Mr Patel, 50, said he was impressed with his wife’s bravery but upset that cowardly thieves had targeted a woman on her own.
He said: “I’m just so relieved she is OK. I get more scared about what could have happened each time I think about it.”
Mrs Patel said it was the first time robbers had targeted the shop, and her husband and children Sheena, 21, and Nishil, 18, were shaken. She said: “We always make sure neither of us are in the shop on our own in the evening but you don’t expect this to happen in broad daylight.
“I suppose you just need to be on your guard all the time.”
Bedfordshire Police are appealing for help with their inquiries into the incident.
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Happy sipping & blessings! - Ann
