Shop owner 'struggling to sleep' after 'robbery'

Tracey Millar, 60, has sold baby clothes in Grimsby for almost a decade

The owner of a family-run baby clothes business says she is "struggling to sleep" after being reportedly robbed by a man armed with a needle.

Tracey Millar, 60, runs the Alexander Byron Baby Boutique on Old Market Place in Grimsby, alongside her daughter and husband, where they claim a man entered the shop on 17 July and stole more than £150 worth of baby clothes.

She said: "I'm on edge all the time. We used to always leave the door open when it's warm but now we keep it shut because I have that edge of nerves."

Humberside Police said inquiries were ongoing to establish the circumstances around the incident and identify those involved.

A police spokesperson said: "The man is described as being aged in his early 50s, approximately 6ft (1.8m) tall and is believed to have been wearing a dark baseball cap, light long-sleeved top, dark joggers and glasses."

Mrs Millar's daughter, Jessica Holdsworth, 35, said the day's trading had been "really quiet" before the incident.

She said: "We'd brought in about £60 that day, which is very, very low for us.

"So, for him to walk out of here with over £150 worth of stock was a couple of days' wages for us."

Mrs Millar said she was suspicious when the man entered the shop and stayed close to him when she noticed he had a needle in his right hand.

"I still didn't want him to leave with the goods," she added.

The BBC has seen CCTV of Mrs Millar blocking the door of the shop before she was pushed over by a man into a pram.

Jessica Holdsworth joined her parents' family business after working as a teacher

Ms Holdsworth, who was also in the store, said: "It all happened so quickly, I tried to chase after him but my mum pulled me back because I didn't know he had a needle.

"We're quickly judging anyone that comes through the door now. I wonder is this person legit and genuinely wants to support our small business or are they going to try and take advantage of us because we're women?"

The police spokesperson added: "Officers were called to reports of a robbery, believed to have occurred between 15:00 and 15:30 BST.

"It is reported a man entered the shop and allegedly attempted to leave the store with multiple items before threatening staff with what was believed to be a capped needle and pushing an item towards them in an attempt to get away.

"Thankfully, no one was injured as a result of the incident, and a number of items of clothing are believed to have been stolen."

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