An Auckland liquor store manager who felt his life was under threat during a robbery Sunday night fought back not with his fists but with smarts.
Prakash Putta, from Liquor Oasis in Auckland's Sandringham, managed to trap the robbers indoors before they escaped from another exit. But Putta said the worst part is he believes they are known to the store.
Robbers are experts at breaking in - and it's not every day you see a group of masked men frantically trying to break out. But five people, with their arms full of cash and liquor, were momentarily stopped in their tracks when their escape route was blocked.
"They took multiple liquor bottles, whisky bottles, beers, and they tried to open the roller door from inside," Putta said. "It didn't work for them because we were a big group as well. Outside, we were holding it down."
Putta can be seen on street CCTV gesturing for help to hold the shop door in place while police were called. His trap nearly worked.
"Unfortunately the back door was open for them. Usually, it is always locked," Putta said.
Putta and his business partner said they initially tried to stop the men from entering by pulling the door down as they first approached.
They only let them go in to avoid further confrontation as customers inside walked out with their hands above their heads.
On Monday, police were at the Sandringham store looking for fingerprints. The thieves also took more than $5000 in cash from the till before taking off in two stolen cars.
Putta believes one of them is known to him as a local customer. He said the man he recognised, and knows by name, spoke to him as he pushed past to enter the store, saying the group was under "clear instructions".
"He recognised my name and said, 'Prakash, stay away from this'."
Police enquiries are ongoing, but for a moment, brains trumped brute force.
