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Fly spray foils armed man's robbery attempt

Shopkeeper sprays fly spray in robbers eyes

An Ipswich shopkeeper has fought off an armed robber with an unusual but effective weapon.

Bing Liu sprayed fly spray into the offender's eyes, resulting in him fleeing her store empty handed.

A man armed with a large knife was demanding cash from Ms Liu, and she didn’t hesitate to use the fly killer to stave off a much bigger pest.

She wasn't thinking about her own safety but that of a female customer who had a baby in her arms.

"I was very scared ... don't hurt the baby," Ms Liu said.

"I just suddenly felt in danger ... I didn't know what to do.

"I just held (the fly spray), sprayed it in his face and also I held his hands and shouted no, don't come in.

The bandit fled empty handed after the 52-year-old shopkeeper sprayed the villain.


Ms Liu’s husband and neighbouring business owners gave chase down Warwick Road with one managing to record the registration of a waiting getaway car.

Anyone would want to do that to protect people like that.

Two men faced Ipswich court today charged with attempted armed robbery and both were refused bail.

"I think it's disgusting," one resident said.

"Bing and her husband are such lovely people."

It was the first time the store had been threatened with robbery in the ten years she has owned the business.

"Thank you Ipswich, thank you Ipswich. All the people helped me," Ms Liu said.