MASKED thieves threatened a shop owner before stealing almost £1,000 and several bottles of vodka in a late-night raid on a city convenience store.

CCTV footage shows the two men entering Premier Elbury Convenience shop on the corner of Tolladine Road and Elbury Park Road, Worcester at 8.58pm on Tuesday (January 16).

Store owner Appan Thisukkumar was counting his money on the counter, minutes before he was due to lock-up for the night, when the thieves entered.

One ran around the counter, taking bundles of money, while the other grabbed bottles of vodka from directly behind the till, before they fled on foot towards Elbury Park Road.

Mr Thisukkumar, who has owned the shop for around 14 months, said £970 and three or four bottles of vodka were taken.

Both men are wearing hoods with the draw strings pulled tight, masking much of their faces.

Mr Thisukkumar told the Worcester News that the day before, a couple of people had come in just before closing, asking to use the toilet, which he refused.

A friend of Mr Thisukkumar, who did not wish to be named, said a couple of weeks ago two people had also come in and asked what time they shut and when the money is counted.

This latest raid was the sixth time the shop has been targeted by thieves in 14 months, Mr Thisukkumar said.

The first suspect is described as being a medium build and around 5ft 8ins in height. He was wearing a blue hooded top with shiny material, light grey jogging bottoms, black trainers with white soles and wearing gloves.

The second suspect is described as wearing all black clothing, black hooded top and gloves.

PC Nick Gibson, of West Mercia Police, said: “Nobody was injured in the robbery but this will have been understandably very upsetting for the staff and customers that were present and we will be offering them support.

“They did exactly the right thing in doing what they were instructed by the offender and then immediately calling us when they felt safe to do so.

“We are following up on a number of enquiries as part of the investigation and, as with many investigations, information from the public can be key.

“Therefore, we would ask anyone who was in the area that saw the incident and has yet to come forward, to get in touch by calling us on 101.”

If you have any information which could help with the investigation, call West Mercia Police on 101 quoting incident number 657s of January 16.