A member of staff at Tesco Extra in Westwood suffered face injuries during an assault by a suspected shoplifter on New Year’s Day.
A customer at the scene intervened after seeing two security staff and the shop worker struggling with a man armed with a knife.
The customer said: “Two security staff and another worker from Tesco’s were struggling with a big aggressive bloke who pulled out a knife.
“What shocked me the most was the amount of people who walked past. I jumped in to help drag the bloke off a member of staff and then punched the bloke and when he went to the floor a member of Tesco staff managed to kick the knife out the guy’s hand. This whole incident took about 12 minutes then when I left the car park the guy was restrained.”
Kent Police detained a man who remains in custody.
A police spokesperson said: “Kent Police is investigating a report a suspected shoplifter assaulted a member of staff in Margate Road, Broadstairs, at around 5.55pm on Wednesday, January 1.
“Officers attended the scene and detained a man in his 40s on suspicion of assault, theft and possessing a bladed article. He remains in custody as enquiries continue.
“The victim sustained facial injuries but a weapon is not reported to have been used during the assault.”
