Armed robber holds up West Kirby shop

Aug 27 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Hoylake and West Kirby News

A TEENAGE worker was threatened with a 15-inch knife during an robbery in West Kirby.

A masked man burst into the One Stop convenience store on Banks Road at 10pm on Sunday, August 17, knocking a male shop worker to the ground before turning on a female customer.

The robber mistook the woman in her mid 20s for a member of staff and demanded she open the till, but the terrified shopper convinced him she didn‘t work there and fled to safety.

The knife-wielding man then ran behind the counter and threatened a 17-year-old cashier with the blade.

Stephen Farrell, 24, who was in the shop at the time, told the News: “I heard a bang as the worker was pushed over.

“He ran through the security door, locked it and called the police.

“The knife man threatened the customer who ran out, and then he held the knife to the other store assistant who opened the till.

“He was swearing at her and shouting ‘Give me the money!’ in a Birkenhead accent.

“She emptied the till and he escaped with the night's takings - around £300 according to the staff.”

The robber made off in the direction of Shrewsbury Road.

Mr Farrell said: “The poor girl was clearly traumatised by the incident - she was just white as a sheet.”

No arrests have been made over the incident and Merseyside Police is appealing for other witnesses to come forward.

A spokesman said: “The offender is described as white, 5ft 8in to 9in, of medium build and wearing a black balaclava, white trainers, blue tracksuit bottoms and a blue jumper with a green and white stripe across the middle of it.”

Anyone with information should call Upton CID on 0151 777 2465 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.