Post office raiders had gun
Monday 16th July 2007, 11:46AM BST.
Two masked robbers who raided a Shropshire post office threatened the shopkeeper with a gun before fleeing with cash, police revealed today.
The terrifying armed robbery took place at Low Town Post Office, in Bridgnorth, at about 4.20pm on Friday.
No shots were fired but the post office owner, Bob Beckett, suffered slight injuries.
Officers investigating the raid today revealed for the first time that a weapon had been used.
Detective Constable Alex Sullivan said at least one handgun was brandished as the offenders threatened the shopkeeper, demanding money.
The raid happened in broad daylight at the post office in St John’s Street.
Several people have already come forward in response to the initial appeal for information, but police are anxious to hear from anyone else who may have seen anything connected to the crime.
After fleeing the premises, the two men ran into a housing estate at the back of the post office and were last seen in nearby Severn Street.
Mr Sullivan said two men had been seen hanging around in or near the car park in Severn Street for up to an hour before the raid.
Anyone who thinks they may have spotted the offenders is asked to contact Bridgnorth police on 08457 444888 or the confidential Crimestoppers number, 0800 555111.
The offenders were both tall, around 6ft or 6ft 1in. They were wearing identical dark blue jackets and trousers, and had orange or red balaclavas.
Police have also urged residents in and around Severn Street to check their gardens and bins in case such hoods or bags were discarded.
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With such a terrible crime, why arent the police checking the nearby gardens and bins?
Its about time they started venturing out of their cosy police stations and cars, and walked the beat a bit more. Who knows, they might even catch a criminal if they did.
Its high time motoring offences were taken off the statistics so we can see what the real crime clear up rate is.
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It sounds like David knows all about police work, it’s a shame he does not keep his comments to himself. He sounds a really sad person. I am sure the police are doing there best and they don’t need negative comments from morons like him.
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Phillip I think David got a point how many police officers to you see on the beat?
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I agree with David & Zoe also why didn’t the police block the roads leaving one open for diverted traffic may be this way we might have caught the robbers.
This makes me really angry considering the amount of council tax we now pay.
WHERE DOES ALL THIS MONEY GO TO?
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Im sorry you disagree with my comments Philip. I do not profess to know much about police work, but I do know I rarely see one walking the streets.
I stand by my comment that this was a terrible crime and I believe the police should have been out checking gardens and bins in the area, rather than asking residents to do it for them.
If this attitude brands me as a ‘sad moron’ in your eyes, then so be it. If your debating skills amount to no more than hurling cheap abuse at fellow contributors, I cant help that.
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Now cummon – how many robbers are gonna dump their gear within a 100 yds of the crime ?? They obviously shot off at a rate of knots either to Kidderminster, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge, Telford, Shrewsbury, Broseley, Highley, Shifnal or wherever – Impossible to block all roads within 5 minutes which is how long it took to raise the alarm. The helicopter was there within minutes – but what were they looking for? Nobody seems to know – dark car? light car? No car? bus? motorbike? pedal cycle? – without information the police have nothing to go on. Thank the Lord nobody was seriously hurt and I just hope that the person who was the “hero” has learned his lesson and never thinks about intervening again. No amount of money is worth risking your life for and I hope that whoever it was that got away with however much it was does some good with it. And if you are reading this – just remember dont look over your shoulder – sometimes you will be confronted head on not crept up on from behind. They will get you – and until they do you aint gonna be able to sleep well in your beds – someone – somewhere is watching you – just a matter of time
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The fact is quite a lot of robbers dump things close to the crime scene, they need to lose things like balaclavas fast before they are seen with them getting into a getaway vehicle for instance.
As for the person who intervened, its very easy to criticise afterwards, when all the facts are clear and there is time to think. In the heat of the moment its very different and snap decisions have to be made. I would hope that I am the sort of person who would try to intervene when seeing an injustice, and not one who would run like a coward leaving the victim unaided. If we all faced up to criminals instead of only thinking about our own skins, it would make them think twice before comitting these crimes.
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