Armed robbers grab cash box and trigger smokescreen
ARMED robbers fled from a bank after triggering a security smokescreen which billowed out into the street.
The gang injured a cash-in-transit driver while grabbing a money box from him during the raid at Barclays, in a busy shopping area of Market Street in Shaw.
The men escaped in a white Ford Transit van, which was found alight a short time later.
The security worker suffered minor injuries during the incident, which happened at about 2pm on Wednesday.
Police, fire and ambulances services rushed to the scene.
The driver did not need hospital treatment, an ambulance spokeswoman confirmed, and suffered minor injuries.
A police spokeswoman said: “We were called shortly after 2.05pm to reports of an armed robbery.
“Offenders stole a large amount of cash from a cash-in-transit driver.
“They then abandoned a white Ford Transit van, which was found alight on Sumner Street nearby.
“The cash-in-transit driver sustained minor injuries.”
Market Street was cordoned off while investigations were carried out fol- lowing the incident.
Sumner Street is a residential road on an estate around 500 metres from Barclays.
Social media users took to Twitter to express their concern during the incident.
Jan Hunt tweeted: “Lots of activity and police on Market Street in Shaw, now fire engines are here, hope no one is hurt.”
Paul Turner, a Lib Dem parish councillor for Shaw and Crompton, tweeted: “Reports of armed robbery in Shaw Oldham... armed police on street after getaway car set fire and left nearby...”
Photos from the scene in the aftermath of the robbery showed the bank filling with smoke as passers-by, shoppers and business owners gathered along the street. No arrests have yet been made and no description has yet been released of the suspects.
It is also unclear what the robbers were armed with during the raid.
Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.