[01 MAR 01] CRIMES, FIRES & ACCIDENTS
City Guard Attacked By Armed Robber

A security guard was sprayed in the face by a robber armed with a gun at a Coventry superstore yesterday evening.

The 25-year-old city man was patrolling in the Big W shop in Olivier Way, Walsgrave when he approached by someone who said he need the toilet.

The security guard showed the man to the toilet and when they arrived the attacker pulled out a hand gun and threatened the guard.

The guard was pulled into a cubicle and told to take the offender to the cash office.

He did as he was told and the robber stole a large quantity of cash. Police today refused to reveal how much money was taken.

Before leaving, the attacker sprayed the security guard in the face with CS gas.

He was treated at the Coventry and Warwickshire hospital for irritation to his eyes and was later released.

DC Shaun Garnham said:

“It was a nasty robbery and the offender fled with a substantial amount of cash.”

He appealed to a man who was in a neighbouring cubicle in the toilets at the same time to come forward as he might have vital information.

DC Garnham added:

“The man may have heard or seen something.”

The offender is white, in his late 20s, 6ft, well-built and appeared red-faced.

He wore a black baseball cap, a checked scarf over his chin, a cream cotton pullover jacket with a hood and blue stonewashed jeans.

SEE [01 MAR 01]: ARMED ROBBERS ESCAPE WITH £19,000
SEE [01 MAR 01]: COVENTRY CLUB WORKER BEATEN BY ROBBERS
SEE [01 MAR 01]: SHOP ASSISTANT ASSAULTED BY CITY THIEF