A shopkeeper has told how two armed men robbed him at knifepoint as he prepared to open for business.
Two men wearing balaclavas ambushed the shopkeeper as he left his shop, Mace Express, in Syston, at 5am, to collect a bundle of recently-delivered newspapers.
The men pushed the victim back into his shop and ordered him to hand over his cash.
The shopkeeper, who has asked not to be named, was left shocked by the raid, but not injured.
He said: "I was getting the papers in from outside when the two lads rushed me and forced me back into the shop.
"They had a knife, which must have been seven or eight inches long, and they were wearing balaclavas.
"They threatened me and took all the money on the premises.
"They must have been watching the shop and waiting for me to come out of the side door to collect the papers. That's the frightening thing.
"I'm still in shock about it but also angry they have done this to me. These people need to be caught because they will do this again to someone else."
Fiona Henry, a member of Syston Chamber of Trade and owner of community newspaper Syston News, said: "It's a shock for the whole town to hear a shop has been robbed like this.
"It's especially shocking that these men had a knife.
"The important thing is that the person in the shop was not physically hurt."
Another business owner, who asked not to be named, said: "They are such lovely people at the shop, I am just glad he wasn't hurt.
"It has made people feel rather worried that something like this could happen here in Syston.
"I don't know if the people who did this are from this area or not, but I hope they never come back."
Councillor Stephen Hampson, chairman of Syston Parish Council, urged witnesses to come forward.
Coun Hampson, who is also the area's borough and county councillor, said: "This is not the sort of crime we associate with Syston, so I am very concerned.
"I would urge shopkeepers to be alert and anyone who has any information about who committed this crime to contact the police immediately."
Leicestershire Police want anyone who has any information about the incident to call them on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
