Police appeal after armed robbery at Tesco Express store in Heswall

Dec 21 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after an armed robbery at a Tesco store in Heswall on Saturday night.

Officers were called to the Tesco Express store in Pensby Road at 11.30pm after two men forced their way in when the shop had closed.

The pair confronted staff in the cash office and threatened them with a red metal bar before demanding they open the safe.

They then ran out of the store with three cash containers before fleeing in a car parked near the library.

None of the three staff members – the 24-year-old deputy manager and two employees aged in their 30s – were hurt during the robbery but all were left extremely shaken and distressed.

The first man, who was carrying the metal bar, is described as mixed race, around 6ft tall, of medium build, with wrinkles under his eyes and on his cheeks.

He was wearing a black waterproof jacket with the hood up, thick ski gloves and a face covering.

The second was white, of similar build but slightly shorter, and was dressed in black clothing with a peaked hood.

Both spoke with Liverpool or Birkenhead accents.

Detective Inspector Justin Danher from Wirral CID said: “This was a violent and terrifying robbery committed against staff cashing up for the evening having closed just half an hour earlier.

“The two offenders smashed their way in before confronting staff in the back office.

“Although no physical force was used, they threatened the victims until they handed over the store takings, leaving them extremely scared and upset.

“We believe the offenders may have waited in the area for the store to close and left after committing the robbery in a car parked nearby.

“I would ask people who live nearby or used this Tesco store on Saturday to tell us if they saw or heard anything suspicious. Their information could be important to bringing these men to justice.”

Call Wirral CID on 777 2265 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.