A jewellery shop was targeted by a group of sword-wielding thugs who rammed their 4×4 into the store while customers were inside – but fled empty-handed after the owner whipped out a bat.
The gang drove their car through the shopfront of Pakistan Jewellers in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in the brazen attack at around 1.20pm on Saturday.
CCTV captured three customers perusing the store while a truck is seen reversing towards the store in the background. It then smashes into the window, which has metal bars across it.
The impact damages the shop’s front and sends chairs flying towards the people inside, who hunch together in terror.
In a second attempt, the 4×4 pulls slightly away before reversing full-throttle into the store, which sends the whole front of the shop to cascade down – falling mere yards away from the victims inside.
The customers, who include a couple who are seen clinging together, are blocked in the corner, surrounded by the shop’s debris, as a masked man armed with a machete climbs over the rubble.
As passing cars honk their horns, the six other people run around the front of the damaged store, carrying two large empty bags – as the shop owner successfully hits the intruder in the head with a small hammer.
He then, armed with a bat, jumps over the counter and runs towards the men who flee into a separate car. The hero then uses the bat to smash through the vehicle’s back window as the gang drive off, leaving the 4×4 behind.
CCTV captured a group of sword-wielding thugs ramming their 4×4 into the store in broad daylight while customers were inside
The customers are blocked in the corner, surrounded by the shop’s debris, as a masked man armed with a machete climbs over the rubble
The six other masked people run around the front of the damaged store, carrying two large bags. The owner the pulls out a bat (bottom right)
The shop owner, armed with a bat, jumps over the counter and runs towards the men who flee into a separate car
Pakistan Jewellers has been a family-run business since 2009, with son Mohammad Ali Ilyas not only helping with the running of the store – but also its defence.
‘The seven men tried to rob our shop but it failed because I defended it with the bat,’ the 20-year-old told the Daily Mail.
‘They rammed the truck into the windows while customers were inside, attempting to rob some gold from our store, but they failed. Nothing was taken.’
‘They had masks on and had swords,’ Mr Ilyas added. ‘It was horrendous. I was just so angry and shocked.
‘It was the first time I have seen a sword before, I was scared for my life.
‘But I was also filled with rage and had to protect the people inside. Someone was trying to rob me and my family for our hard work. We work every day and night, seven days a week.
‘I was just so tense, I didn’t know what to do, so I threw the small hammer at them. I then grabbed the bat despite my dad pulling me back.’
‘The couple who were in the store were buying presents for a wedding,’ Mr Ilyas added.
Police cordoned off the scene, which included the stranded vehicle, with the jewellers sitting at the junction of Duckworth Lane and Toller Lane
The gang smashed through the shopfront of Pakistan Jewellers in Bradford, West Yorkshire, (pictured) at around 1.20pm on Saturday
It is understood no one was injured from the attack, which lasted around 35 seconds.
It is the first time the store has been attacked. It is expected to remain closed for at least two weeks while it is repaired.
Police cordoned off the scene, which included the stranded vehicle, with the jewellers sitting at the junction of Duckworth Lane and Toller Lane. West Yorkshire Police has been contacted.
The failed heist, however, hasn’t deterred Mr Ilyas from continuing his family’s 30-year legacy of being in the jewellery business. ‘I love doing what I do,’ he said. ‘I love jewellery. We will be back.’
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