A ROBBER may have accidentally set himself on fire when he and his accomplices torched their getaway car after raiding a bingo hall.
Three masked men wielding baseball bats burst into Gala Bingo, Pallion New Road, Sunderland, at about 7.30pm on Monday night and threatened staff. No-one was hurt.
They grabbed cash and then made off in a dark car that was found on fire behind the Cornings factory, off Trimdon Street.
CCTV cameras captured footage of three men running from the wreckage, one of them ablaze.
Detective Inspector Ron Cruikshanks said: "We believe it is the same vehicle used by the three men after the robbery because it is dark coloured and the same shape.
"Inquiries in the area in relation to CCTV shows three people running from the vehicle. However, one of the men appears to be on fire. It seems when they burnt out the car it went wrong."
One fire crew from Sunderland Central fire station extinguished the blazing car.
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to call them on 08456 043 043 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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