Armed robbery on Ball Hill Subway shop

[dutchman]

Armed robbers raided the Subway takeaway in Ball Hill.

Officers say a gang of between two and five people burst into the sandwich shop at 9.55pm last Monday.

The thieves stole cash and personal items from staff.

Two staff members suffered minor injuries but did not require medical attention.

A man and a woman, both 21, were arrested on suspicion of robbery. They have since been bailed, pending further inquiries.

Police say they are keeping an open mind as to whether the raid was linked with a mum being carjacked in the city on the same evening.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “The robbery is being investigated by Force CID and we are doing all we can to bring the offenders to justice.

“We are keeping an open mind in respect of any links to any other incidents.

“If anyone has any information we would ask them to contact us on 0345 113 5000 or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

[dutchman]

Coventry Subway robber jailed for nine years after hammer raid

A ROBBER who threatened staff in one of Coventry's Subway sandwich shops with a hammer has been jailed for nine years.

Cavan Connolly, 23, of Northumberland Road, Spon End, went into the Subway store in Walsgrave Road, Ball Hill, on October 25 last year.

After threatening two members of staff he snatched till takings and two handbags – fleeing with £300 in cash at around 10pm.

A few hours after the robbery plain clothed police officers spotted Connolly and associates acting suspiciously in Northumberland Road.

The group had been travelling in a Vauxhall Astra which pulled over yards from Connolly’s home address.

As officers approached he escaped and was seen dumping a bag containing two hammers under a parked car.

Two days later police executed a warrant at his address and they found clothing that matched items worn during the robbery.

He was charged and appeared at Coventry Crown Court earlier this month. Connolly admitted one count of robbery.

After the sentencing Coventry Police vowed to continue the fight against robbers targeting city businesses.

Two members of staff were hurt in the robbery, including one who was punched in the face, but neither were seriously injured.

As well as being jailed for nine years Connolly was also ordered to pay £295 in compensation to Subway – cash which police had already seized from him.

It’s not the first time Connolly has been jailed, having served a six-month term in 2008, for affray.

On his Facebook page Connolly lists his address as HMP Featherstone – a category C prison – and asks for women to write to him if they are interested in him.

One of the shop workers, a 30-year-old criminology and psychology graduate from Coventry University, said the robbery was traumatic.

“It was a terrifying experience, like a scene out of a movie. This guy came in wearing a balaclava. He started shouting at us. We were both shocked. We didn’t know what was happening,” she said.

“He went through the door by the counter and grabbed the till and ran away and another two guys came in and tried to get me to open the safe but the combination wouldn’t work.

“He pushed me into the corner before running off.

“I didn’t go into work for three weeks afterwards and it took me a long time before I could work a night shift again.”