A 75-year-old shopkeeper in Gateshead is closing his store for good after a terrifying robbery, saying he no longer feels safe to run the business. Jaafar Jaafar, known to locals as Jaff, was attacked at the Venus Express shop on Sheriff's Highway on September 23, just before 11pm.
Jaff, a former soldier who has run the shop for the past eight years, said he was preparing to close when a woman he recognised as a regular shoplifter tried to steal cans of cider from the fridge. When he grabbed her to retrieve his stock, a man she was with launched an attack, knocking him to the floor and kicking him repeatedly.
Heartbreaking decision to retire
Jaff was taken to hospital following the incident, which he says came after months of being repeatedly targeted by shoplifters. He has now taken the decision to retire, as he no longer feels safe to run the shop.
"I'm finished with the shop now. What am I supposed to do? If someone comes in with a knife I would lose my life," he said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking. It's not about the shop, I don't feel upset about the shop and what's in it, it's the people. I'm part of the community. We are different from any other shop, we look after people in the good times and bad times."
Community loss
Jaff, who lives in Washington, served in the Iraqi army before moving to the UK almost 50 years ago. Since taking over Venus Express, he has become a well-known member of the community, regularly helping out customers who were short on money or going through hard times. He says he had even given free food to the man that attacked him when he had come into the shop saying he was hungry.
"He always comes in looking for food saying he's so hungry and hasn't got any money," Jaff said. "I have fed him a couple of times. I didn't expect it. It all happened in a split second. I don't know if he punched me or pushed me but I fell, and whilst I was on the floor he was kicking me then they both ran away."
Jaff says he managed to phone a family member who called police. When officers arrived, they called an ambulance. "I was literally shaking, I was in a really bad way," he said. "I had fallen backwards and hurt the bottom of my spine and my shoulder was severely bruised."
Jaff went to hospital and is now recovering at home but remains in a lot of pain. "The area has got worse and worse, especially in the last six months," he said. "We are inundated with shoplifters. We call the police time and time again and nothing happens. The police say any physical contact is an assault, so how can you protect yourself and your business?"
Andrea Graham, who worked for Jaff in the shop, has also been targeted by thieves while working alone. The 55-year-old said: "I'm absolutely disgusted. It's not the first time this has happened. People come in just thinking they can take what they want. We are a sitting target. The shop is a huge loss to the community. Everyone that came in was like family. If someone needed anything and didn't have enough money we used to say; 'don't worry about it, pay when you can'. We knew all the kids that came in and now that's all gone."
Police appeal
Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident. A spokeswoman said: "We recognise the serious impact shoplifting can have on businesses and residents in our communities. In order to further protect shop staff, support business owners and reassure everyone who works within the retail industry, in recent years we have made changes to strengthen our response to this type of criminality. We are actively targeting prolific offenders and looking to problem solve with retailers to reduce the volume of their offending. Where appropriate we also effectively use Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOS) and dispersal orders to manage offenders and help tackle the issue. We would always encourage anyone who is a victim of crime to report it to us."
"Shortly after 11pm on Wednesday, September 23, we received a report of theft at a premises on Sherriff's Highway in the Low Fell area of Gateshead," the spokeswoman added. "It was reported that two people – a man and a woman – had entered the premises before taking a quantity of alcohol and attempting to leave without making payment. When challenged by a male member of staff, the man is reported to have pushed the worker before punching and kicking them. The man and woman then left the scene. The worker sustained non-serious injuries. Enquiries into the report are ongoing and anyone with information should send us a direct message on social media or use the live chat and report forms on our website. For those unable to make contact via the above ways, call 101. Please quote reference number 26000456126."
