Shopkeepers told not to fight back

Ipswich convenience store owner Lam Nguyen who sent a thief fleeing after pelting him with objects from his shops shelves.Photo: Sarah Harvey MA1810HA

A SHOPKEEPER’S courageous actions in protecting his wife from a knife-waving robber have been widely praised, however police have warned against fighting armed intruders.

Eastern Heights convenience store owner Lam Nguyen hurled handfuls of jars, tins and bottles at a 16-year-old boy who held up his Grange Road business on Wednesday afternoon.

The boy eventually aborted his attempt to ply open the cash register and fled the scene, allegedly stealing a packet of cigarettes.

Two bystanders later chased the teenager down and returned him to police.

While Mr Nguyen’s actions proved effective on this occasion, Ipswich Detective Inspector Mick Niland said police did not advise the victims of armed robberies to fight back, as there was the potential for the situation to become even more volatile.

“What the victim did on Wednesday was very courageous; however from a police perspective, we encourage victims to obtain a description of the offender and be compliant with their requests,” Inspector Niland said.

“By resisting someone who is possibly armed with a knife or firearm you are risking serious injury or death.”

Police will not consider laying charges against Mr Nguyen or the two bystanders who performed the citizen’s arrest on the teen, however Inspector Niland warned there were certain circumstances where a victim’s resistance to an armed robber could exceed what can be accepted as self defence.

Inspector Niland said Ipswich police had an excellent record of solving robberies, and members of the public should not feel the need to take matters into their own hands.

“The reason we are able to solve so many of these crimes comes down to good surveil- lance footage as well as reliable information from witnesses, Crime Stoppers and use of the local media. It’s a good deterrent because anyone who commits an armed robbery in Ipswich is more than likely to be charged,” he said.

When police publicised security footage of an armed robbery at the Dinmore 7-Eleven earlier this month, the resulting information led not only to the arrest of three people, but the solving of two linked armed robberies in Brisbane and a further 10 on the Gold Coast.