“Money, money, clear that cash register!” With those words, a young robber entered the Wibaut Evening Shop and Belhuis in Zaandam on Saturday evening. Two days later, co-owner Abdula Al-Hasani is still somewhat impressed. For him, it was the first time he had experienced a robbery, but this was already the third before the convenience store. “I think the perpetrator was very scared.”
The robber – Abdula estimates him to be about twenty years old – was dressed entirely in dark. Gloves on, a balaclava and a large knife in hand. “He came in and I was then at the back of the office. I immediately knew what time it was and called 112. He immediately went to my stock filler and he did not know what was happening to him. Because I did not want anything to happen to him, I then walked to the checkout.”
“He yelled ‘money, money, empty that cash register!’ Then I gave him everything and then he said, ‘Is this really all?’ Abdula showed him that the cash register is really empty and the robber was gone. “I think he was very scared. We had very deep eye contact and his eyes were very large, he looked very tense. I don’t think it was something he does often.”
This is the third time the store has been robbed. Abdula’s father – it is a family business – was given a gun to the head by a robber five years ago.
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The store was also robbed on January 15, 2018 – NH Nieuws
The perpetrators of the first two robberies have been caught, this weekend’s robber is still at large. There are good camera images, the police still looking for witnesses.
According to Abdula, the perpetrator was white, had a Dutch accent and blue eyes. He also had a blue Albert Heijn bag with him.
The robber’s loot was not great: “Well, some people think that you can get a lot of money at a night shop. But we are a small business. The person who committed the robbery will also see: the loot is not so big that you have to commit a robbery for that. If you are in money trouble I would rather you come to me personally. Then I will gladly help you with a loan or something, without you having to commit a robbery. This is it in the end just really not worth it.”
“The video of the robbery often plays in my head”
He continues: “Suppose that boy is arrested, then he will be labeled a criminal and it will be more difficult for him to find a job. And that for a few cents!”
How are he and the stock filler doing? “Okay. After that I was quite calm, but I notice that it is on my retina. The video of the robbery often plays in my head.”
Yet there was never thought to stop. “I’ve had a lot of good feedback from people who support us. There are many close customers who stand behind us and think along with us. We’ve been here for fifteen years now, we’re not going to be chased away by a little guy who takes some money. There I’m definitely not thinking about it.”
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