SHE didn’t have time to think through her actions, but a very plucky 68-year-old Margaret Ward managed to scare off an armed robber on Friday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The licensee of Liquor Legends in the Vincentia shops, Mrs Ward hurled a card scanner at the thief’s head as he was stealing her wallet.
The Basin View resident said about 7.20pm the robber followed her in to her shop after she took a toilet break.
“The light over the men’s toilet in the Burton Street Mall was out,” she said. “I think he must have followed me into the shop from there.”
The robber, who wielded what police think was a sawn-off rifle, demanded Ms Ward open the till.
“I refused. I don’t know why. I wasn’t thinking about being brave or anything.”
Ms Ward then moved behind the counter.
Her briefcase was resting on the counter-top and the robber ordered her to give it to him.
She pushed it towards him and he opened it and took out her wallet.
“That’s when I threw my card scanner at him,” Mrs Ward said.
“It bounced off his head. He turned and ran out the loading door at the back.”
Ms Ward said the robber disappeared up Excellent Street.
“No one heard the commotion so no one came to help. In the end I only lost my wallet.”
She said losing the wallet was more of an inconvenience than anything else because she had to cancel her cards.
“I have to admit I felt a little shaky after the robbery,” Ms Ward said.
She said although her store has been burgled before, this is the first time it had been subjected to an armed robbery.
“This is the fourth armed robbery in our area in the last month. Things are much worse now than before.”
Ms Ward thought repairing the toilet light in the mall and introducing CCTV cameras to the shopping centre would go a long way to prevent violent crime.
This latest incident has renewed calls for a stronger police presence in the Bay and Basin area.