Quick-thinking shopkeeper traps attempted robber under shutters

In a remarkable display of courage, a shopkeeper successfully foiled a robbery attempt by cleverly trapping the intruder beneath the store's roller shutters.

The incident unfolded last month in Durham City when Malcolm Trimble entered a local shop concealing a kitchen knife up his sleeve. After grabbing a four-pack of lager, he proceeded to threaten the shopkeeper. Little did Trimble know that the shopkeeper possessed quick wits and an unwavering determination to protect the store.

Reacting swiftly, the shopkeeper sprang from behind the counter, sprinted out of the premises, and firmly held the door shut, effectively confining the intruder inside. Maintaining composure, the shopkeeper activated the shop's metal roller shutters, ensuring that Trimble's escape route was sealed.

Malcolm Trimble

Faced with the realisation that he was trapped, Trimble resorted to brute force, desperately attempting to force open the door. After a brief struggle, he managed to break free from the shopkeeper's grip on the handle and made a frantic, yet ill-fated, attempt to emulate Indiana Jones by sliding under the descending shutters.

Unfortunately for Trimble, his timing was off, resulting in him becoming lodged on the floor. His head remained inside the shop, while his torso protruded onto the street where the shopkeeper was calmly alerting the police. In a final act of defiance, Trimble reached for one last can of lager, resigned to consuming it during his fleeting moments of freedom.

Responding promptly to the emergency call, officers arrived at the scene within three minutes. They found the would-be robber immobilised with his head stuck inside the shop. They released the shutters and apprehended Trimble.

The Durham Crown Court on Wednesday handed the 30-year-old Trimble a sentence of three years and four months after pleading guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a knife.

“It wasn’t the most difficult arrest we have ever made. To be honest, it was an open and shut case,” Detective Sergeant Paul Mawson, of Durham Constabulary, commented.