5:32pm Thursday 24th July 2008
By Nicola Davies
A PROLIFIC gang of weapon–wielding masked robbers have struck another shop, threatening a young employee at knife point.
Detectives have been investigating a series of linked robberies at off–licence type shops, which has seen six stores hit across the town since July 7.
The latest attack happened last night at the Spar Shop on Thelwall New Lane in Grappenhall at 8.50pm when two men, one armed with a large blade, entered the store and demanded money from the frightened employees.
A police spoksesman said: “The men got away with a quantity of cash and although no–one was hurt, staff have been left shocked and distressed by the incident.”
The man holding the knife is described as 5ft 8ins tall, was wearing jeans and a dark coloured hooded top with his face concealed by a paintball type mask.
The other man is 5ft 11ins and was also wearing jeans and a dark coloured hooded top and had his face covered by a scarf.
The previous robberies have taken place in Padgate, Winwick and Fairfield and on each occasion two or three men, one brandishing either a knife or a hammer, threatened staff to open the tills.
All the robbers had their faces covered with one of the men using a paintball type protection mask.
Police are also keen to trace a black hatchback car seen leaving the scene of one of the robberies.
Det Insp Dougie Shaw said: “We have put extra patrols in Warrington to offer reassurance to shop employees and crime reduction advisors are visiting shops to review security measures and CCTV.
“Staff need to be vigilant for anybody acting suspiciously and to look out for the car.”
Det Insp Shaw added: “We are also looking at some cases that occured in the Merseyside force area, in Newton–le–Willows, that are possibly connected.”
Anyone with information should call police on 01244 616936 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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