QLD shopkeeper threatens teens with large knife before they drive vehicle into storefront

Steve Hart and Warren Barnsley
7NEWS
A frustrated Newport shopkeeper has trapped would-be teen thieves inside her store after she held them at knifepoint.

A teenager who was part of a group that had a large knife pulled on them by an angry Queensland shopkeeper has admitted they were “looking for a reaction from her”.

Lin Ge, the shopkeeper at the Friendly Grocer in Newport, north of Brisbane, said she threatened the group with the knife because she had “had enough” of the group’s behaviour.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Frustrated shopkeeper takes action.

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Three boys aged 14 to 15 went into the shop on Tuesday afternoon, where they claim Ge began “harassing and swearing at us”.

“I’m not going to lie, we were looking for a reaction from her,” one of the boys, Sean*, told 7NEWS.

“We were like pretending to steal, but we didn’t steal.”

Two of them ran from the store pretending to hold stolen goods, CCTV footage of the altercation shows.

One of the boys remained in the shop.

Lin Ge held a knife to a teen in her Newport shop.
Lin Ge held a knife to a teen in her Newport shop. Credit: Supplied
One of the boys said he feared Ge would stab his mate with her massive knife.
One of the boys said he feared Ge would stab his mate with her massive knife. Credit: 7NEWS

Ge shut the store’s front door and locked the boy inside.

It was at that point Ge allegedly pulled an estimated 30cm knife while the boy was trapped in the shop.

“My mate’s inside, she’s holding a knife to him. He’s never done anything wrong. He’s got a clean record,” Sean said.

“He was there trying to pay at the counter.

“She’s holding a knife to him.”

Sean also alleges Ge thrust the knife at him when he was able to partially open the door.

“It wasn’t so funny anymore after that,” he said.

“I thought, ‘She’s already tried to stab me, what if she stabs my mate? I can’t watch him get stabbed’.

“I did what I had to do. I drove a car into the front of the shop.”

The boy used his car to try and break the door of the shop open.
The boy used his car to try and break the door of the shop open. Credit: Supplied

Sean, who on his own admission does not have a driver’s licence because he is too young, drove a car which he says he bought on Facebook Marketplace into the front door of the shop in a bid to free his mate.

The boy was able to escape and shop and the group fled the scene.

Also speaking to 7NEWS, Ge said the group of boys had stolen from the shop before, prompting her to follow them after they entered.

One of the boys admitted stealing from the shop in May.

Ge said one of the boys had also exposed his buttocks to her when she accused them of stealing on a previous occasion.

“I’ve had enough,” Ge said.

“Yes, I held a knife in my hand.”

Neither party has put in a complaint to police, meaning the incident will not be subject to an investigation.

*Not his real name.

Originally published on 7NEWS

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