WILD WEST COUNTRY
Shotgun raider robs a Co-op in quiet Somerset
A SHOTGUN-wielding robber holds up a convenience store in Somerset as Britain’s epidemic of violence hits the West Country.
Police in Yeovil released CCTV images of the raid as they try to identify the balaclava-wearing raider.
The thug threatened the cashier with the weapon before fleeing the scene in a darkcoloured vehicle with cash and tobacco.
The barrel of the shotgun appears to be held within inches of the terrified staff member’s face at the Co-op in a peaceful suburb of the town.
Avon and Somerset Police say the incident is highly unusual for the area.
Detective Inspector Glen Boxer said: ‘I’d like to reassure the community that crimes involving firearms in Avon and Somerset are extremely rare.
‘We’re doing everything we can to trace this offender, and we have a number of lines of inquiry which we are pursuing.
‘Thankfully no one was hurt in the incident but it was clearly a very frightening experience for the shop assistant.’
The spate of violence across Wild West Britain has seen record numbers of murders in London and other large cities, while smaller provincial towns have been flooded with drugs and weapons because of the operations of ‘county lines’ drugs gangs.
Police in Yeovil are urging any drivers who were passing the area of the incident on the town’s Mudford Road to share any dashcam footage with them.
They say the raider sped off in the direction of nearby Mudford following the raid between 10.30pm and 10.45pm on Thursday. Detective Inspector Boxer added: ‘We’re still keen to hear from anyone who was in the area who saw the incident or anything else suspicious around the time. I appreciate the offender’s balaclava makes it difficult to identify them but do you recognise the coat?’
Anyone with information is being asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.