A brave local retailer fended off a machete-wielding robber during an attempted raid on a convenience store in East Kilbride.
The incident took place around 12.30pm on 17 August at the Day Today store on Alloway Road, where a masked man entered the premises and demanded cash while brandishing a large bladed weapon.
Cool-headed Bikrant Malhotra refused to hand over money from the till and instead attempted to keep the situation under control while the suspect demanded vodka and scratch cards.
Police Scotland confirmed that staff were threatened with a bladed weapon and that a quantity of alcohol and scratch cards was taken during the incident. No injuries were reported.
CCTV footage released by the store shows the suspect waving a machete and causing damage inside the shop before leaving.
Bikrant later described the incident as surreal, admitting he initially believed the weapon was fake and the encounter was some kind of prank before realising the threat was genuine.
Despite the ordeal, he said he was relieved that no customers entered the store while the incident was taking place.
Police investigations remain ongoing. The suspect was described as wearing a black and blue jacket, a grey tracksuit top and a white shirt covering his head.
Detective Constable Alex Murray said: “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the robbery to contact us.
“We’d also ask anyone with private CCTV or dash-cam footage which could assist our enquiries to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 1310 of 17 August 2026, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
