Brave post office clerk fights off armed raiders

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/sl ... d-raiders/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A HAVE-A-GO post office clerk risked life and limb fighting off a knife-wielding thug.

Satinder Battoo was working at his family post office in Colnbrook with his parents Narinder and Mohinder at around 5.30pm on Monday when two masked men burst in brandishing a 12-inch knife and demanding money.

Fearing for his family’s safety, and being between the thief and his parents, Mr Battoo lunged at the robber to rip off his balaclava but was viciously stabbed in the hand.

The 45-year-old said: “Two guys came in with balaclavas and scarves over their faces. The first was saying something but all I could hear were muffled sounds, then the other guy started screaming at me to give them money.

“The first one had a foot-long kitchen knife but I just went straight for his mask because I wanted to see his face. He stabbed me in the hand and I needed 12 stitches. I managed to get the balaclava off but only as they ran away. I just wanted to look at him face to face but I only got to see the back of his head.

“I didn’t have time to be scared, it was instinctive really, I just wanted to protect my family and I was determined they wouldn’t get a thing.”

Mr Battoo did not get a good description of the offenders although both are white and the one with a knife had dark hair.

He added: “These guys are obviously very lazy because they don’t want to work for a living and think it’s easy pickings. They’re setting a very bad example for the kids.”

The post office in Park Street was also targeted by thieves last year but the raiders fled with nothing after being confronted by Mr Battoo. This latest robbery came two weeks after the Colnbrook Pharmacy on the same street was robbed by knife-carrying thieves and one day after the BP Petrol Station in Parlaunt Road, Langley was held up at knife-point. At this stage police say they are not linking the incidents.

Anyone with any information should call Det Con Will Tippetts on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

[Lounge Lizard]

He added: “These guys are obviously very lazy because they don’t want to work for a living and think it’s easy pickings. They’re setting a very bad example for the kids.” Similar was said about Crozier and Leighton.

[Post Off]

'HAVE-A-GO' are not the words I would have used. The words demean (I believe) what Mr Battoo was facing -- a deadly, albeit pathetic attempt on the part of the would be thieves to communicate their demands, confrontation with two attackers whose outward demeanor spoke of harm if demands were not to be swiftly met.

I don't think I would have had the balls to do what Mr Battoo did. It's a terrible situation to find yourself in. Still, before a similar situation might rear its ugly head again, I might be tempted to create a solution to counter these despicable attempts, but I suspect it will need to be some kind of shared-businesses solution for it to really succeed.

[andy2007]

You're right, it was a very brave thing to do. Particularly as it isn't the first time, that Family has had to face an armed robbery.

Normally, I wouldn't encourage people to take on armed robbers. It's better to just give them the money, and let the Insurance pay for the losses. But when your Family are at risk, it changes things considerably.