‘I looked up and there was a machete in my face’ – shopkeeper relives terrifying robbery

A call for calm has been made to a community incensed after their village shop was robbed – weeks after a burglary and then an attempted break-in.

Cowbit Village Stores owner Colin Foxwell was alone in the store when he was threatened with a machete by three masked men who cleared the tills of cash and shelves of alcohol and cigarettes.

Colin said: “They came in like any other customer but when I looked up there was a machete in my face.
“It was a horrible experience.”

As news of the robbery spread on social media, outraged villagers began hatching plans to be present at the store to offer additional protection to staff and Colin.

Colin said: “We want to thank everyone for their support – we are so grateful – but I want it all left in the past now and to get on with life again.”

The robbery at the Barrier Bank store happened at around 7.15pm last Wednesday (March 15) and saw around £1,500 to £2,000 of cash and goods taken.

Just hours before the robbery there had been jubilation as the £3,000 target was reached in a campaign to buy security shutters for the store, launched by villagers following a burglary on February 19. On that occasion around £1,000 of alcohol and cigarettes was taken.
A week later windows were damaged again in what appeared to be an attempted break-in.

Shopworker Dawn Hook said they have already increased security systems within the store.
“What has happened doesn’t make sense,” she said. “It is going to take a while to process, but we are a good strong team.
“We’d had such a good day, the sun was shining, the target had been reached. We were on top of the world and then this.”

She added: “Colin just wants people to do exactly as they have done for the last five years – come in to buy their groceries, chew the fat and leave with a smile on their faces.
“We’re just really grateful he is OK.
“Although we weren’t here it has been a traumatic experience for all of us.”

Villagers were moved to fundraise for Colin following the first break-in because of how community minded he is – ready to drop off milk to someone when they are unwell and always first in line to donate to local causes.

Last Thursday, the shop had to remain closed as a forensics team gathered evidence but Colin was outside giving customers their newspapers straight from the van.
“I’m not going to let them get to me,” he said. “If you do that, they’ve won.”

The raiders escaped in a blue 4×4 with a silver skirt.
Police want to hear from anyone who saw the vehicle or has any other information – contact Spalding CID on 101, quoting incident number 404 of March 15.