Not a clean getaway in bank raid
THEY TRY TO FLEE AFTER STEALING CASH
BUNGLING robbers who targeted a bank in Cheetham Hill struggled to get their car into gear as they attempted to make their getaway.
Police were called to NatWest, on Bury Old Road, just after 3pm yesterday to reports of a cash-in-transit robbery.
It is understood two masked men parked up outside the bank as the security van pulled up.
According to witnesses, when the guard got out with the cash case, he was chased by one of the suspects who stole the case from him.
The man then got back into the car, but as the driver attempted to flee, he had problems getting the vehicle going.
One man said: “A guy came with a van to get cash from the bank and all of a sudden there was a car parked right outside the bank with two men inside.
“One guy came out and put a mask on and chased the guy with the suitcase of cash. He chased him around the van and then the guy eventually let go of the suitcase and the robber jumped into his car. I was shocked when I saw that. It’s terrible. It’s terrifying.
“The driver was struggling to put the car in first gear. He was really struggling – they struggled to get away. He needs to practise more at getaway driving.”
The pair eventually managed to flee, and the police helicopter was drafted in to help with the search.
NPAS Barton tweeted: “15:25 Tactical support to @gmpolice engaged in a search @GMPPrestwich, search areas cleared.”
Witnesses also reported seeing police activity around Leicester Road and Tetlow Lane, in Higher Broughton, Salford.
A woman who lives near Tetlow Lane saw police cars chasing after two men.
She said: “There were at least five police cars and vans here. I came home and saw them all and thought the worst, like there has been some kind of attack.
“The police told me it was a bank robbery. I don’t really know what to think but I’m just glad it wasn’t something much worse.”
A spokesman for GMP said: “Shortly after 3pm on Friday, June 30, police responded to a report of an armed robbery at a bank on Bury Old Road in Cheetham Hill. No weapons were seen. Police attended and no one was injured. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
The force wasn’t able to confirm if cash was taken and said that no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 1277 of June 30.
Earlier this week, ten men were charged after an investigation into 13 cash-in-transit robberies across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Dawn raids were carried out by GMP’s Organised Crime Group at addresses in Cheetham Hill, Higher Broughton and Burnley.