A FEARFUL shop owner has hit out at brazen robbers who stole alcohol from behind the counter of his shop.

Robert Aroki, owner of newsagent William Webb News in South Woodford, has suffered three robberies in the past two months and fears police will do nothing to help him.

CCTV footage shows two robbers lean over the counter and snatch alcohol while other customers wait to pay for their items.

The incident took place on October 28 at 9.36pm, while another took place at 9pm on October 16. The first incident took place in September.

The 46-year-old has owned the newsagent for two-and-a-half years and feels scared when leaving his shop due to the incidents.

He said: “I feel very safe and comfortable in this area but I feel scared after something like that happens and scared when I leave the shop.

“I had customers waiting to pay when they stole the alcohol. They don’t care about them or the police. They just steal and go.”

The shop owner has not reported the incident to the police because he fears they will not bother to tackle an incident involving a small amount of lost money.

Mr Aroki said: “I don’t want to report it to the police because won’t come out. They will say it’s beneath 70 pounds and not enough to come out for.”

The 46-year-old has instructed staff not to fight back if robbers get aggressive and feels powerless to do anything.

He said: “My staff keep metal bars behind the counter for protection because they don’t know what will happen.

“I don’t want to fight with them because I don’t know if they have a gun or a knife. It’s impossible. I told my staff don’t resist, just let them take what they want.”

The Guardian has approached The Met for comment.