Last updated at 16:33, Tuesday, 16 October 2012

A SHOPKEEPER has told how a hooded criminal armed with a kitchen knife burst into his store demanding money – while his wife and two children were asleep upstairs.

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The offender targeted St Luke’s News in St Luke’s Street, Barrow, at 6.20am on Saturday September 29, as owner Nadarajah Kugarajah was preparing for the delivery of the morning newspapers.

Police yesterday released CCTV images of the incident in a renewed bid to trace the suspect.

The images show the offender grasping a carving knife and clambering over the counter to steal a quantity of cigarettes.

Mr Kugarajah, 31, said the culprit first demanded money, but made off with the cigarettes after being told the till was empty.

The corner shop owner, originally from Sri Lanka, said his wife Kalpana, five-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter were upstairs asleep when the knifeman burst in.

The ordeal lasted less than a minute but left him shaken and upset.

Mr Kugarajah said: “He asked me to open the till, but I told him: ‘It’s early morning, there is no money’. I stood here (at the end of the counter, leading to the staircase). This was my position – I stayed here. He climbed over and took some fags.”

The shop was also targeted in January last year.

Mrs Kugarajah, 31, said of her husband: “He is okay, he’s back to normal. He had two or three days of tension.

“I don’t know why it happened – people in this area are really, really friendly with me. I’ve been over here five years, so I know the customers and I’m happy.”

Detective Constable Sarah McArthur said: “We’ve been focused on identifying this man and are turning to the community for help.

“A local 20-year-old man was arrested as part of our enquiries, but he’s since been released without charge.

“The offender was seen to leave the shop and walk off in the direction of Roose Road.

“He is described as being about 5ft 6ins to 5ft 9ins tall, and of slim to medium build.

“I’d appeal to the community to take a good look at this footage and see if you recognise this man. Does he look familiar? Have you seen this tracksuit before?

Anybody who has any information, or saw any of the incident, is asked to contact Barrow CID on 101 - or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

First published at 16:32, Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk