COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Petrified staff were threatened by armed robbers and locked in an office while they raided a Nuneaton store.

The two female staff members, who have not been identified, were ambushed by a gang as they were locking up the One Stop store in Higham Lane last night.

The three robbers, who all had their faces covered and were armed with a crowbar, threatened the two women, before forcing them into an office and locking them inside.

Detectives say the men only spent a few minutes in the store, stealing an undisclosed quantity of cash from a sale, before leaving on foot, over open fencing at the back of the shop.

Fortunately, the two women were able to raise the alarm with the police, who arrived at the scene along with ambulance staff.

Paramedics checked over the pair of staff, one of whom had suffered bruising believed to have been caused by being grabbed on the neck and face by one of the robbers.

Police officers made an immediate search of the area using a dog team as well as making house to house enquiries but did not find the trio.

Now detectives are leading the investigation to trace the man and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward according to a spokesperson for Warwickshire Police Force.

“Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the males in the area of the One Stop Shop at around 11pm last night (Thursday, January 23) or leaving the back of the store and across nearby allotments,” the spokesperson said.

“They are also asking the public to contact them if they find any items that appear to have been discarded near the shop or allotments, in particular officers are keen to trace a leathery mail or money bag.”

All three of the men have been described as wearing dark clothing, gloves and their faces were covered.

One of the gang members was wearing a distinctive black addidas top with light blue stripes on it. He was wearing red rubber gloves and grey footwear and a grey T-shirt under his hoody.

The second man was wearing black jeans or trousers and a black hoody, and the third had a grey hoody with dark jeans.

Any witnesses to the robbery, or those with any information on the identity of the robbers, should contact DS Neil Reader in Nuneaton CID on 101.

Details can also be passed onto the police by calling the Crimestoppers hotline, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.