ROTTERDAM, NY (WTEN/CNN) - A New York store owner fought off two robbery suspects who tried to steal from him. The confrontation was caught on camera.
And the store owner has a message for the would-be criminals. "No mess with Singh, you know?!" Gurchran Singh said on Tuesday.
No kidding! When two masked men came into Markanda convenience store demanding cash and cigarettes, they probably weren't prepared for a baseball bat. Store owner Singh says he always keeps a baseball bat behind his register just in case something like what took place ever happened. But he never anticipated having to use it.
"Protect your family and yourself you know?" Singh said. When thieves threatened him and his wife Monday night, Singh says he didn't think twice.
"They say, 'give me the money, give me the money, I have a gun.' But they didn't show a gun they showed a knife. I'm angry, we don't work for penny,” Singh said.
Singh grabbed the bat and chases the two masked men from behind the counter all the way out of his store. His wife, no damsel in distress, following behind him with another bat.
"I'm not scared that someone's threatening me. I’m not scared for that. I'm fighting until I'm dead," Singh said.
So where do Singh and his wife get all this bravery? He gives a lot of credit to his Sikh faith. "We are Sikh people, we are fighting for last drop," Singh said.
Police in Rotterdam arrested two men, Ryan Kelly and Brandon Ehlers. Now that they're behind bars, Singh has a special message for both of them: "They should find a job. Go to work. They can understand how you work hard,” Singh said.
Singh says he's owned his convenience shop for 15 years, and has never been in a similar situation. He hopes he never will be again.
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