Staff tied up by robbers ‘armed with handgun’
Masked-men entered Top Town store on Tuesday morning
ROBBERS carrying what looked like a handgun tied up staff at Barwell Co-op prompting armed police to swoop on the area this morning.
Workers at the shop in Top Town were targeted first thing when a man and women were bound up by the robbers.
A witness said there were around 12 police cars in the area and an ambulance following the raid.
Richard Stretton, manager of the Mercury News shop nearby told our sister paper the Leicester Mercury: “I understand it was a man and a woman who were tied up by the robbers, who had knives.
“The first thing I knew about it was when the armed police arrived - about 10 of them with guns.
“They were running around the area a bit and then cordoning it off. It’s really scary. It makes you wonder why they picked here instead of there.
“I was nervous enough after the Post Office in Stoke Golding was robbed a couple of weeks ago but this is right on my doorstep.
“At least the police were here very quickly. It’s good to see their response times are good and fast.”
He said an ambulance arrived later and that the area was now swarming with police and about 12 police cars are in the area.
He said: “I think the robbers had left by the time the police turned up but I don’t know what they got away with.
A shopkeeper at a nearby store, who did not want to be named, said: “I heard they got in at the back of the shop when the deliveries were arriving.
“It makes you fear for your life when something like this happens.
“I’ve been thinking about opening an off-licence but I don’t think I will now.
“The assistant at my shop tells me she would never work anywhere selling booze or cigarettes because she’s worried about this sort of thing happening.”
A statement from Leicestershire Police said: “Detectives are investigating a report of a robbery at a shop in Malt Mill Bank, Barwell, Leicestershire.
“Police were called at 6.25am today (Tuesday) to a report of two masked men entering the Co-op. One was believed to be carrying what what has been described as a hand gun.
“Cash was taken from the premises.
“Two people inside the shop at the time were assaulted and sustained minor injuries.
“In the interest of public and officer safety, firearms officers attended the scene. A cordon is in place while enquiries continue.
“The men left the store and made off in a small, dark coloured, vehicle, which turned into Chapel Street and High Street.
“We would like to hear from anyone who saw the incident take place, saw a similar vehicle being driven in the area or loitering shortly before the offence took place, saw where the vehicle went next, or knows where it is now.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote incident 83 of May 30.
The incident in Barwell comes less than a week after armed raiders targeted a post office in Stoke Golding, just four miles away.
Masked men entered the business on Church Walks and threatened staff before stealing a quantity of cash.
The getaway car was found dumped in Convent Drive, near St Martin’s School, a few minutes later.
Police are investigating.