Armed Robbery
Detectives in Oxford are hunting for two men following a violent armed robbery in which they stole over ten thousand pounds.
The two men raided the Co-Op on Banbury Road at approximately 10.30pm last Friday, binding three members of staff with tape in a rear office, after threatening them with a weapon. One male store worker was consequently treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital after being attacked with pepper spray.
The alarm was sounded at 10.49pm, after which a team of 29 police officers, including armed officers and dog-
handlers, were dispatched to the crime scene. The force helicopter was also deployed.
The shop was cordoned off and only reopened on Sunday afternoon.
Acting Detective Sergeant Alun Watkins said: "This was a traumatic incident for the staff. They acted with courage and have been able to supply officers with good descriptions of the men involved.
"The men were quite calm during the raid so may not have drawn attention to themselves as they left the building. But their descriptions are distinctive and we are hoping someone might have seen them."
Adrian Barradell, a spokes-man for the company, told local news media: "This was a very upsetting and shocking incident for our staff."
Since the event, workers at the Co-Op store in question have been told not to discuss the robbery.
Anyone who may have witnessed the event should contact Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
27th May 2004