A shopkeeper in East Kilbride has recounted the moment he realised a masked intruder wielding a machete during a midday raid was not playing a prank. The incident at the Day Today store on Alloway Road on Monday 17 August has prompted a police investigation, with officers appealing for witnesses and footage to help identify the suspect.
Bikrant Malhotra was alone in the shop when the man entered in broad daylight. His initial instinct was disbelief—he thought the weapon might be fake and the whole encounter a joke. That assessment changed quickly.
"I thought it was a prank - I thought the knife was fake, I thought it was a bluff. But then obviously as the time went on, he wasn't leaving, and after he hit a few things, the knife was pretty real."
According to Police Scotland's official appeal, the robbery occurred around 12:35pm and a quantity of alcohol and scratch cards were taken from the premises. The suspect was described as wearing a black and blue jacket, a grey tracksuit top, and a white shirt over his head.
How the robber's demands shifted
The intruder's requests changed as the encounter progressed. He initially demanded cash, but his focus soon moved elsewhere.
"Once his mind was off the money, I just started putting the bottles in - obviously that's insured,"Malhotra explained.
"And then he started asking for scratch cards, which is even better because you don't even have to go through insurance, you could just cancel that straight away."This shift in the robber's priorities allowed Malhotra to hand over items without triggering additional confrontation.
Why the timing was fortunate
Malhotra emphasised how fortunate the circumstances had been. Despite having no means to defend himself, he remained relatively composed throughout the ordeal. The most significant factor, he believed, was that no customers entered the shop during those critical minutes.
"Surprisingly, no customer came in. That time is usually a busy time. The next day at that exact time, there was six people, like six customers in the shop. Those three minutes, no-one came in, which is a good thing, I think just because no-one had to see that. Obviously he could have panicked as well and anything could have happened."
The shopkeeper's observation highlighted the unpredictability of the situation. Had other people been present, the encounter could have escalated in ways neither he nor the intruder could have controlled.
According to local reporting, no injuries were sustained during the incident. Armed police officers attended the scene after the alarm was raised, indicating the seriousness with which authorities treated the robbery.
The broader context of violent retail crime
This incident reflects a concerning pattern of armed robberies targeting retail premises across Scotland. Earlier in August, a filling station worker in County Armagh was targeted by a masked man with a handgun, while an off-licence employee in Carrickfergus was assaulted with a screwdriver during an armed robbery. These incidents underscore the risks faced by retail staff working alone or in small teams.
Malhotra described the area around his shop as typically peaceful.
"The area is usually quiet in terms of drama,"he said, suggesting the brazen nature of the daytime robbery was particularly shocking to the community.
What happens next in the investigation
Detective Constable Alex Murray is leading the inquiry into the robbery, which has been assigned incident reference 1310 of Monday 17 August 2026. Police Scotland is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dash-cam footage to come forward. No arrest has been publicly confirmed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Members of the public with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or provide anonymous information through Crimestoppers. The force has emphasised that any footage from the area during the time of the incident could prove crucial to identifying and apprehending the suspect.
Key Facts
- The robbery took place around 12:35pm on Monday 17 August 2026 at the Day Today store on Alloway Road, East Kilbride
- The suspect was wearing a black and blue jacket, grey tracksuit top, and white shirt over his head
- Alcohol and scratch cards were stolen; no injuries were reported
- Police are appealing for witnesses and any CCTV or dash-cam footage (incident reference 1310 of 17 August 2026)
- Armed officers attended the scene after the alarm was raised
