CCTV footage captures masked men armed with axes attacking Yardley flower shop owner for his Rolex
CCTV captures the moment Darren Mackenzie is ambushed for his Rolex watch.
Three masked men ran into a Birmingham flower shop armed with an axe and attacked the owner for his Rolex.
Darren MacKenzie and his partner Karen Minto were getting ready to open Ripe n Ready Florist & Garden Centre at the Yew Tree Shopping Centre in Yardley, around 7.30am on Saturday when the violent gang burst inside.Wielding the axe, they demanded Darren hand over the watch he was wearing but he refused.
He tried to fight them off by pushing a trolley full of plants into them but fell as they scuffled. Karen tried to protect him as he lay on the floor.
Suddenly the men heard police sirens on the opposite side of Church Road and fled in a beige BMW.
Darren sustained a broken kneecap and bad bruising and was taken to Heartlands Hospital.He was discharged around 6pm and despite their terrifying ordeal, the couple are bravely back at work on Sunday saying they cannot let the criminals win.
West Midlands Police say they are investigating.Karen, 52, said: "We are petrified. I keep getting flashbacks of how quickly it happened.
"We are at work at the moment but it's terrifying. We have wages to pay and have to open the shop."The drama unfolded as they prepared to open on Saturday morning with his daughter Chantelle Taylor and her husband Matthew.
Karen said: "I was taking the plant trollies out to set them up for the day.
"I went inside to start making the flower bouquets up and I heard a commotion, a lot of shouting. When I looked up there were three masked men waving an axe around."I ran out and they were shouting to Darren 'give me your watch' but he said 'you're not having my watch'.
"Darren then pushed the trollies into the men to try to stop them getting to him."But they still came for him, Darren tried to run away but he fell on the floor. I was trying to push them away."They knocked me on to the ground as I tried to protect Darren. Darren got up and was trying to get into the cafe next door which we own but the door was locked.
"The staff were in the back and didn't hear."We were banging on the windows to call the police. They kicked him in the back. We then heard some sirens which weren't for us and on the opposite side of the road and they ran off."The police came and Darren was taken to hospital with a broken kneecap and bruising. They have secured CCTV and launched an investigation.Karen said Darren is no longer wearing his watch and is "getting rid of it."
She said: "It's a shame when you work hard in life and can't have nice things but it's not worth it."A spokesman from West Midlands Police said: "We’re investigating an attempted robbery that happened on Church Road in South Yardley, yesterday (Saturday 10 August).
"We’re at the early stages of our enquiries but have already secured CCTV footage and other important information."Anyone who can help us find the offenders should talk to us via Live Chat on our website westmidlands.police.uk quoting investigation number 20/745605/24.
"Alternately, you can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111."They will not ask for your name or trace your call and you may be entitled to a cash reward."
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