Thousands stolen during terrifying raid on shop
A MAN was held at knifepoint as armed robbers carried out a terrifying raid on a shop in Littleport on Tuesday morning.
Two balaclava-clad men burst into McColls on Main Street shortly after 5am and forced their way into the stockroom where they held the shop’s assistant manager at knifepoint and assaulted him.
Police believe about �6,000 was stolen before the masked duo made off from the scene on bikes. Officers said the men used a fluorescent yellow newspaper bag to carry the cash.
The shaken employee was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for treatment.
Detective Sergeant Phill Richardson, investigating, said: “This was a terrifying experience for the victim and I would urge anyone with information to call police.
“In particular we are keen to trace the fluorescent bag that was used to carry the cash, or the bicycles the offenders made off on. These may have been discarded and I would ask people to contact us if they find them in the area.
“I would also like to speak to anyone who saw people hanging around the back of the store in recent weeks, or who was in the area at about 5am this morning. A car was seen pulling up outside the store at about 5am to drop someone off, we are keen to speak to the driver or the person who was dropped off as they may have vital information to assist the investigation.”
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The offenders were described as white, muscular and wore balaclavas and dark clothing. One was about 6ft 3”, the other 5ft 11”.
It is the second such armed robbery to have taken place in East Cambridgeshire in recent weeks, with Mepal postmaster Gurdip Singh Jatana assaulted and threatened with a sword after robbers burst in to his Post Office on December 8.
On that occasion however, the assailants left without any money.
A Post Office spokeswoman said: “The people who run our post office branches provide important services to local communities.
“Any robbery or attempted robbery is not only traumatic for those involved but is also an attack on the local community.
“We would urge anyone with information to urgently contact the police.”
Anyone with any information should call DS Richardson on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
