Published: Thursday, 21st August, 2008 17:45
CHARITY SHOP GUN THEFT...FOR £7
By Eitan Grant
Print Article
PLUS ARMED ROBBERIES IN JOHNSTONE, RENFREW AND VILLAGE SHOP
A CRAZED gunman held up a terrified pensioner in a charity shop before making off with just £7.
Shocked volunteer Margaret Dorman was working in the St Vincent’s Charity shop when the armed raider burst in and demanded cash.
The gutsy OAP gave him £7 and then told him to “CLEAR OFF”.
Retired Margaret said: “I’m angry that someone would come in here and do this. I was shocked when he came in and still very shaken. It was very frightening.”
A woman and a group of children had a lucky escape when they left the Linwood shop just minutes before the hold up occurred.
Armed police officers swarmed around the town’s Clippens Road fearing the robber, who brandished what looked like a pistol, at Margaret may strike again.
St Vincent’s Hospice manager Alasdair McLean added: “Both women are very traumatised by what happened.
“This is a charity shop. What sort of sick person would do something like that?”
Detective Sergeant Russell Duncan of Johnstone Police Office said: “This was a cowardly despicable crime, and the women, who are charity workers, were very distressed by their ordeal.
“I would urge anyone who was in the area of the shop after 11am this morning and saw the suspect hanging around the area or leaving the scene, to contact the CID at Johnstone on telephone number 01505 404044.”
A TERRIFIED shop worker had a bundle of ten pound notes snatched from her hand during an armed robbery.
The young woman, who does not want to be named, was working alone in the Scotbet bookies at the shops off Hallhill Road, Johnstone when two raiders pulled down the shop’s shutters trapping her inside.
They then approched the stunned 27-year-old and one of them demanded cash while waving a knife in front of her face.
She said: I was shocked and just froze.
“I had been counting out money and they just grabbed it and ran out.
“It all happened so quickly I didn’t have time to press the panic alarm.
“They were about a metre from me. If they had been more aggressive the knife could have been in me.”
Cops are hunting the Spateston robbers, who struck at 8.45pm on Friday August 15, making off with a three figure sum.
Detectives are looking for two men who fled in a white transit van after the incident.
Both suspects are thought to be between the ages of 18 and 20. One partially hid his face with an orange scarf and baseball cap.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Johnstone police on 01505 404000.
Officers are leading the hunt for an armed raider who struck at a Renfrew leisure facility.
Officers are appealing for information from the public following a robbery at Xscape last Wednesday.
At around 8.30am a man approached the entrance to the centre then threatened the 28 year-old manager with a knife and demanded the contents of the safe.
The suspect made off with a five figure sum of money via the roller shutter door.
He was last seen making his way towards Kings Inch Road a short time later.
The manager was uninjured but left badly shaken by the ordeal.
The suspect is described as white, approximately 5’10”, stocky build and in his late 20’s.
He is described as wearing a black Nike hooded top, blue jeans covered in either white paint or plaster, black footwear, a three-quarter length yellow high visibility jacket, a dark scarf around his neck and dark coloured gloves. He was also carrying a brown or beige coloured bag.
Detective Constable Suzanne McNulty of Johnstone CID said: “This was a well planned and timed robbery which has left the victim badly shaken.”
“Anyone with information that may assist police enquiries to contact my office on 01505404044 or alternatively contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111.”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
'Murder bid' on innocent sailor