Shopkeeper punched, store trashed in Kelmscott IGA retaliation attack

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Shopkeeper punched, store trashed in Kelmscott IGA retaliation attack

By Renae Henry

A group of people who attacked and raided a Perth grocery store after its owner detained a nine-year-old boy for shoplifting late last year are yet to be charged.

The incident was sparked when the young boy attempted to steal a bottle of Coke from the Kelmscott IGA store on Albany Highway on December 30.

The owner of the store, 41, performed a citizen’s arrest, and allegedly locked him in the storeroom.

The young boy tried to smash a window and escape the room, but suffered cuts to his head, hand and arm in the process.

Now, security vision taken from the store on the same day of the incident has been released.

The vision showed a group of people arrive at the store and corner the store owner.

He was punched twice in the head, and the group can also be seen hurling rocks at staff and ransacking the shelves.

One staff member was forced to hide behind a counter due to loose debris.

Following the incident, the storeowner was charged with aggravated common assault and deprivation of liberty.

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Lawyer John Hammond.

Lawyer John Hammond.Credit: 6PR

However, it’s understood the people depicted in the footage are yet to be charged over the retaliatory attack.

Lawyer John Hammond is acting on behalf of the store owner, and said his client’s intention was to detain the child until police arrived - but the group arrived first.

“My client's shop is getting regularly robbed, he's regularly copping tirades of abuse from customers and he's had enough,” he said.

“Store owners need to be given greater protection by the law and yes arguably there's a need to change the law so you can take greater steps to protect your property and your person.”

The store owner’s insurer also will not cover the $2000 bill for damage and losses due to his pending criminal charges.

Family spokesman Mervyn Eades there was no excuse for the store owner’s behaviour.

“His actions aren’t justified [in] no way whatsoever, you do not touch anyone else's child no matter what,” he said.

“He won’t go into shops without any adults or his parents with him.”

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