[07
APR 00] CRIMES, FIRES & ACCIDENTS
Armed Raider Hits
Coventry Building Society
An
armed robber brought terror to a branch of the Coventry Building
Society yesterday when he threatened staff with a sawn-off shotgun.
The
attacker walked into the building carrying a blue Slazenger bag in
Tile Hill Lane, Tile Hill, at 4.40pm, minutes before it closed for
business.
He
walked up to the counter and passed a note to the cashier asking to
see the manager. At this point he opened his bag and revealed a
sawn-off shotgun.
The
man, aged between 35 and 40 with a round face, was taken into the
manageress’ office. He had dark brown hair, was of stocky built and
was wearing a black jumper and blue trousers.
He
stayed in the office for a few minutes with the manageress and the
staff member until the branch had closed and other customers had left
the building.
The
man then gave the manageress some tape and told her to go outside and
bind her other staff’s legs, wrists and cover their mouths.
Detective
Sergeant Malcom McCutcheon, who is investigating the crime, said it
was the first that the other staff realised that they were being
robbed.
After
the mangers had finished with the tape she was ordered to go to the
safe and hand over a “substantial” amount of money to the raider,
who then walked out of the building.
The
staff, who were unhurt but shaken by the incident were then able to
free themselves and raise the alarm.
During
the robbery the attacker wore a mask, but DS McCutcheon said he was
not wearing it while he entered or left the branch.
It
is believed that he may have made his escape in a new shape red Rover
400 or 600 that was parked in Middlecotes and left the area when the
raid ended at 5.10pm.
DS
McCutcheon said:
“We
want to appeal to anyone who may have been innocently parked there
to come forward.
“We
are also looking for witnesses who saw the man.”
He
added that CCTV footage of the raid was being analysed to try and find
any further clues of the man’s identity.
Coventry
Building Society chief executive Martin Ritchley said the branch was
open as usual today.
He
said:
“We
place the safety of our staff and customers at the very top of our
list of priorities.
“We
will be doing all we can to ensure the person or persons responsible
for this crime are brought to justice.”
Anyone
with any information should call Little Park Street CID on 01203
539082 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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