CCTV footage shows a heavily pregnant shopkeeper being punched, thrown to the floor, and dragged across her own store by robbers who entered posing as customers. The incident occurred at a sportswear shop on Avenida Gilberto Elizalde, Argentina, on August 5.
Robbers posed as customers
The footage shows at least four thieves taking part. One remained at the entrance as a lookout while the other three entered carrying shopping bags. The first man through the door seized the owner's daughter-in-law and steered her towards the rear of the premises, while the other two confronted the owner, Gabriela, 39, as she tried to run for the street.
They grabbed her by the arms, struck her, threw her down, and hauled her along the floor as she fought back. The attack continued until she stopped responding and lay motionless.
Third robber emptied the till
A third member of the gang emptied the till and helped himself to stock while the assault was under way. As the men made for the exit, the shopkeeper got back to her feet and tried to block them, only to be beaten a second time before they escaped.
The raiders took cash, merchandise, and personal belongings from both women, fleeing in a red Peugeot Partner van that was reportedly driven by a woman, with a second car said to have been waiting nearby. A further security camera captured them attempting to steal a car just 15 minutes later, though that driver realised what was happening, reversed away sharply, and got clear.
Victim's account
The daughter-in-law, named as Maria, described the raid in an interview with a television channel. She said: 'We had sat down seconds earlier after tidying the shop. When these people came in, and we realised what was happening, we tried to get out. Two people grabbed Gabriela, threw her on the floor, dragged her and attacked her.'
'One of the robbers took me to the back, grabbed me by the hair, threw me on the floor and slapped me so I would not try to look at him. Then he threatened to shoot me.'
The owner confirmed that both she and her unborn baby were unharmed despite the violence, though she was left aching all over from the struggle. She said: 'I did not want them to take me to the back because I felt that would be worse.'
Her sister Belen said the shopkeeper was resting with raised blood pressure and had been unable to sleep, but that the baby was fine. She said: 'The important thing is that she gets better now and stops being affected by her nerves.'
The men remain at large.
