A SHOP assistant rammed a thief with two metal dustbins in a bid to stop him stealing the till.

The brave woman, in her fifties, who does not wish to be named, was working at Hickey’s DIY in London Road, Rayleigh, when the thief struck on Sunday afternoon.

Owner Steve Hickey, 40, said: “Someone came in and she had never seen him before. He was white and in his thirties.

“He bought number plate stickers and then asked where the nearest pub was and what time we close.

“We shut at 2.30pm on a Sunday and he came back at about 2pm and said he wanted to buy tools for work.”

The raider stole a pair of wire cutters and removed the till before attempting to flee.

Mr Hickey said: “She barged into him with the dustbins, but he barged back at her.

“He sped off with the till. She gave chase and followed him to his car, but he drove off. She’s a bit shaken up. She was only standing in for me.

“I told her she shouldn’t have gone after him. You don’t know if people have a weapon.”

The thief escaped with the till containing £400.

Mr Hickey said: “I’ve had to replace the till, so he’s cost me £500.

“It’s so annoying. You are here working hard and you have these people come in with no respect and take a day’s takings.

“Rayleigh is a nice place to live and work, but this sort of thing is happening.

“The hardest thing is opening up the shop on a Monday and already being £500 down.

“It leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

It’s hard enough as it is without worrying about people stealing your takings.”

THE raid came weeks after robbers cornered a shopkeeper in neighbouring Grange Food Store, in Grange Parade, London Road.

Kalpesh Patel, 45, had to dodge flying bricks and was threatened with a wrench as he tried to fend off robbers during a terrifying attack on January 4.

Two men burst in at about 8.25am, demanding money and attacked him with a ratchet and threw bricks and blocks of Tarmac before running off with the till containing £300. Police are not linking the robberies.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incidents and saw anything suspicious, or has any other information, should call Rayleigh Police on 101, or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.