Jeweller fends off would-be ram raiders

A jeweller has told how he helped thwart a masked gang who tried to ram raid his shop on a busy afternoon.

CCTV footage from within Pakistan Jewellers, on Duckworth Lane in Bradford, showed a reversing car crash through the front of the premises, before a group of balaclava-clad men briefly entered the store.

In the video, terrified customers are seen huddling together while staff members, including owner Mohammed Ali, 20, appear to throw objects in the direction of the gang who then run off.

The BBC has contacted West Yorkshire Police for comment about the incident, which happened at about 13:00 BST on Saturday. No items were stolen.

Ali, who runs the business with his father, said he had been left shocked and angry.

He said: "They failed because we defended ourselves and they couldn't get through [to any stock].

"They left with fear, I think. You could tell they were frightened. As they left, they were shouting, 'let's go'."

Ali said one female customer had been slightly hurt in the incident.

"It was just a normal Saturday and the shop had been really busy," he said.

"About 10 minutes before, there were three ladies sat on chairs right where the car went through the window, so if it had happened then it would have been a different outcome.

"It was horrible. We've just been clearing everything up today."

Neighbouring businesses told the BBC of their fears after the incident.

Mohammed Mehrban, who runs a boutique store, said he was close friends with the Ali family.

"I heard a loud bang, so I went outside and there was a white car parked outside the shop," he said.

"Four men got out. They were wearing balaclavas and one of them had a weapon. They went into the store and they were out again in 30 seconds."

Mehrban described the scene unfolding in front of him as "like a movie".

"It happened really fast. They were proper professional. They knew what they were doing."

Mehrban said the incident had left him feeling scared.

"We're just shocked, especially with it happening in the daytime."

Another trader, Qammar Zaman, said he wanted more CCTV put up in the area to combat what he said was an increasing amount of "suspicious activity", including large-scale fighting on the street.

"We're going to be raising it with the police, that we need more cameras," he said.

"Obviously, it's scary what happened and it doesn't make you feel safe.

"It's not just concern for us, but our customers as well. It's not good for business."

Despite the recent issues in the area, Zaman insisted it was a "nice community".

"We don't want to spoil this," he said. "We don't want people to think this is a bad area."

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