A SHOPKEEPER spoke today of her horror after being confronted by two robbers in an early-morning raid.

Mother-of-three Lorraine Lovelock, who was left devastated by the incident, said it would take a long time to recover from the ordeal.

The 39-year-old is now warning other shopkeepers to be on their guard and to call the police if they have any information about the people responsible.

The ordeal began for Mrs Lovelock when she arrived at the family fruit and veg store at Kings Parade, Findon, near Worthing.

She said: "I got to the store and as I went in I saw a man standing in an alleyway nearby. I didn't take much notice. This is a lovely area and you simply are not suspicious of people. But when I went into the shop I turned around and he had come in after me.

"He pushed me to the ground and held my face to the floor while he pushed what I think was a knife against my back. It was at that point he was joined by a teenager.

"He then covered my head in a towel and went through my handbag."

The pair stole Mrs Lovelock's bangles, watch and ring, along with credit cards and keys and £100 from the till.

She said: "I was absolutely petrified. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. It is not so much the material things that were taken, it is more the infringement of my privacy and the psychological effect it has had."

Mrs Lovelock and her husband Paul, who come from the Littlehampton area, have owned the shop, called Fruitways, for a year.

The robbery has changed their outlook on life and they say they are now suspicious of everyone.

Mrs Lovelock said: "I would know those two people again if I ever saw them. When they do something like that to you, you don't forget them in a hurry.

"What upsets me most is that I have an 18-year-old daughter who has sometimes opened the shop up for us when we are busy and it could have been her. I shudder to think what might have happened.

"These people knew exactly what they were doing and I am sure they have done this before.

"I have spoken out now because I want to warn other people that these people are about and what they can do. If it helps them to be caught then I will be happy."

The first robber is black with short hair, aged about 18 and 5ft 9in. He was wearing a grey-blue hooded sweatshirt.

The second is white, about 16 and 5ft 4in with brown hair. He was wearing a black waist-length hooded jacket and a checked scarf.

Police are treating the incident seriously and are appealing to anyone who was in the Findon Road area during the early hours of Monday morning to come forward.

They are also warning shopkeepers in the Worthing area to be on their guard against similar incidents and to report any suspicious activity outside commercial premises during the early hours.

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Det Con Mark Seymour on 0845 60 70 999 ext 21207.

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