Crime
Police investigating as another store is raided
DETECTIVES investigating a supermarket
robbery are studying
possible links to a spate of raids.
Officers last night said they
could not rule out the possibility
that an attack at Somerfield, in
Yarm, near Stockton, yesterday,
was connected to five others in
recent months.
At least three masked robbers,
one of them wielding a hammer,
stole several cassettes for a cash
machine at the store, in
Healaugh Park, shortly after
1.30pm.
The store was immediately
closed and cordoned off. Police
spent yesterday talking to staff
and officers searched the shop for
evidence.
The men are believed to have
fled the packed store in a getaway
car. No one was hurt in the incident.
Police were last night still trying
to piece together enough information
to issue descriptions of
the men and the getaway car.
Staff in nearby shops said they
were unaware of the incident
until police arrived.
One woman, who asked not to
be named, said: "It is a relief, but
we do not really take enough
money compared to Somerfield."
In the past 18 months, armed
gangs have held up security
guards at four Tesco stores and a
Sainsbury's store. Detectives believe
the five incidents are connected
to two gangs operating
out of Manchester and Liverpool,
and are working with officers in
the North-West on the cases.
In November 2006, a female security
guard was held at gunpoint
and forced to hand over
money, believed to be five figures,
in a raid at Tesco, in Eaglescliffe,
near Stockton.
On February 5, last year, a security
guard was held up at gunpoint
in Sainsbury's, in Bishopton
Road West, Stockton.
In February last year, a female
security guard was threatened
with a sledgehammer by two
armed men wearing ski masks as
she was filling a cash machine in
Tesco Express store, in Norton,
near Stockton, at about 7.25am.
In June last year, three men attacked
security guards at the
Tesco store in Acomb Wood
Drive, York, and escaped with a
large amount of money.
In July last year, an armed
gang held up staff and security
guards at the Tesco shop in Parliament
Road, Middlesbrough.
A police spokeswoman said
last night: "Police are keeping an
open mind as to their connection
with five other raids."
Anyone with any information
is asked to call 01642-326326.
10:24am Wednesday 30th April 2008
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