A police investigation has been launched after a gang of youths burst into a Tynemouth convenience store and attacked a member of staff.
Around 12 teenagers entered the Co-op Store on Front Street at around 9pm on Easter Monday (April 18) and stole a number of items before shoving the shopkeeper as they left. Staff have been left shaken by the incident, but, thankfully, no one was injured.
Police have now launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from the store.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Shortly after 9pm on Monday we received a report of a disturbance at a shop on Front Street in Tynemouth. It was reported that a group of young people entered the shop and made off with several items without paying, shoving the shopkeeper as they left
“CCTV of the incident has been obtained and enquiries into the incident are on-going.”
A spokesman for The Co-op said that abusing retail staff will not be tolerated as it appealed for anyone with information to contact officers.
A Co-op spokesman said: “There was an incident at our Tynemouth store on Monday evening (April 18). Fortunately, no one was hurt, however, colleagues were left feeling shaken.
"Abuse and anti-social behaviour should not be part of the job as retail workers serve their communities, and we appeal for anyone with information to come forward to police, who are investigating.”
The incident comes just weeks after a gang of teenagers attacked a Metro worker at Tynemouth Metro station and broke a train window. Police were called to disperse the gang who had taken over a station platform and forced trains to pass through without stopping during the incident.
A dedicated security team is now based at Tynemouth and nearby stations during the school holidays.
