An alleged shoplifter is reported to have shoved a staff member against an ice cream freezer at a family-run store.

A CCTV video recorded at Nisa Local in Preston Street, Faversham, shows a man with his hood up carrying an armful of alcoholic energy drink cans out of the store.

The shop’s owner, Kruti Amin, tries to stop him from leaving - but he then pushes her over.

A member of the public intervenes and the man eventually walks off without paying.

Her husband and store co-owner, Pinal Amin, told KentOnline: “This is just not right. My wife is a bit petrified.

“This morning, she didn't want to come by herself. I had to come in.

“I don't think she'll be coming to work by herself for a while.”

Mr Amin, who was not in the convenience store at the time, said as the man started walking out with the alcohol yesterday, his wife had said: “You can’t steal from me.”

He added: “It's not the value. If they think they can get away with it, they'll just keep coming back for more and more and more.”

Thankfully, Mrs Amin was not injured in the incident.

Mr Amin, who has owned the store since July last year, says it is targeted by shoplifters almost every day.

“It's devastating,” the 32-year-old said.

“We work seven in the morning till 10 at night every day, and we support the community.

“We give to food banks - whatever we have going out of date we give to homeless people.

“Over Christmas, we donated two cases of advent calendars to the food bank.”

Mr Amin called police, who have since made two arrests.

He added: “I understand that people are having a hard time, and when they can't afford it that's the measures they take.

“We understand that, but getting into violence and abuse - that is where we need to draw the line.”

Officers visited Nisa Local the day after the incident and reviewed the CCTV footage.

Today, a 31-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested in Tunbridge Wells.

Chief Inspector Vanessa Foster said: “We are determined to protect our local businesses from retail crime and where we receive reports of shoplifting - particularly if violence is involved - we will take steps to locate and detain any suspects at the earliest opportunity.

“Where appropriate, they will be charged and remanded to appear before magistrates.”