Convenience store clerk holds robbers hostage in store they tried to rob

A Canadian convenience store clerk has fought back against robbers armed with a pickaxe and iron before escaping and barricading the duo inside the store.

CCTV captured the incident which sees the pair – a man and a woman disguised in masks – enter the store in Calgary, Alberta and threaten the clerk in the early hours of the morning.

The convenience store clerk can be seen arguing with the thieves as they move behind the counter.

As one robber fills his bag with cigarettes, the clerk seizes his chance and grabs at the burglar's weapon, ripping off his ski mask as well.

Soon the clerk is wrestling with the two thieves.

He manages to break free and escapes through the front door but rather than flee, the clerk barricades his attackers inside the store.

When the robbers attempt to exit, the clerk refuses to budge, hurling jugs of windshield washer fluid at them.

He is soon joined by a witness who helps attempt to keep the burglars inside the store.

Police arrive and arrest one male offender, who according to local media, was being held down by the clerk and a witness.

"A second female offender had fled the area prior to police arrival, but was identified shortly after the incident and located later that afternoon," police said in local media reports..

The clerk received minor injuries.

The Calgarly Sun reports Arthur Bennie, 35, was charged with a string of offences, including robbery, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of stolen property, disguise with intent, mischief, uttering threats, having an uninsured motor vehicle and operating a vehicle contrary to disqualification order.

While Natalie Elaschuk, 24, was charged with one count each of robbery, assault with a weapon, disguise with intent, mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Asif Mohammed, the owner of the convenience store told media his clerk refused to lay on the floor when instructed to by the robbers.

"You guys can take whatever you want, but I’m not going to lay on the floor," Mohammad said, recounting the night clerk's experience.

Mohammed said at the time of the robber, the clerk was on the phone with a colleague from a nearby convenience store who when told about the robbery locked his own store and rushed to help.

Since the robbery, the store has installed a night-time door lock and improve security system.

The clerk has since returned to the night shift.