Terrifying moment balaclava-clad robber threatens shop worker with meat cleaver before stealing £2,000 - as police launch manhunt

Daily Mail​

27-06-2025

A baclava-clad robber waved a meat cleaver in the face of a shop worker before stealing £2000 as he instructed him to 'empty the till now'.
CCTV shows the thug storm into the Armadale Premier in Bathgate, West Lothian, at around 8.15pm yesterday evening.
Wearing a grey tracksuit and grey Adidas trainers, he can be seen shoving the shop owner into a corner before helping himself to the cash.
Shop bosses took to social media to share the video and are now appealing for any information about the culprit.
They wrote on Facebook: 'There was a robbery at the shop at 8:15pm, if anyone know anything about this guy please let us know.'
Store owner Abdul Manan added there had been 'minor incidents in the past but nothing like this' and said the store assistant was 'shaken but is doing ok'.
Mr Manan, who was not in the store at the time, said he was first alerted to the incident after the store clerk, Atta, contacted him immediately when it happened.
He told the Edinburgh Evening News Atta had informed him there'd been a robbery at the shop.
Mr Manan explained: He said he was [ok] so I said just hang up and call the police and I'm on my way.
'He's been working in the shop for quite a while and that's the first time this has ever happened.'
The store owner went on to say he believed the robber was seen at around 7.45pm standing at the bus stop next to the shop for half an hour, keeping an eye on the store.
He said Atta had been getting ready to close the shop for 9pm, clean it, and mop everything before the incident took place.
Mr Manan added: 'The police were here until around 2am on Friday and forensics have been out. Because I shared the CCTV video on social media lots of people have come back to me as well with information and I have given that to the police.'
One well-wisher wrote: 'Poor guy, just doing his job' while another said: 'This is absolutely disgusting, I hope you're ok, that must've been terrifying.'
A third customer added: 'This is out off order they are trying to make a honest living to help the community they are so nice and helpful.'
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Police received a report of a robbery at a premises on Lower Bathville in Armadale around 8.20pm on Thursday, 26 June, 2025.
'A man threatened staff with a weapon before stealing approximately £2,000 in cash and running off. No-one was injured.
'Officers attended and enquiries are ongoing to trace the man.'