£100k robbers evil axe attack

Angela Murphy 1581 - 1581 • Published 8 Apr 2009 14:30

A YOUNG couple came to the aid of a security guard who was slashed by an axe during a £100k robbery.

The terrified victim hammered on their door after he ran from three thugs who attacked him as he delivered money to a local bank.

Sophia Kender and her boyfriend David Blackwell said they got a shock when they heard banging on their front door in Bishopton during the night.

Sophia said: 'We wouldn"t normally go to the door late at night but I felt like something was wrong.

'It was a security guard with blood gushing from his hand saying "I"ve just been attacked - can you help me."

'He had tried the houses next door but no-one had answered so he was very happy to see us and kept apologising.

'He told us there had been a robbery at the Bank of Scotland up in Station Road and that three guys had chased him halfway down the street.

'We just tried to calm him down as he was out of breath and panicking and stop the blood which was dripping all over the bathroom and kitchen.

'The whole time he was here he was saying "what about my colleague - I just want to know he"s all right" - even though he had just been attacked with an axe.'

The two G4S security guards were putting money into the bank at 10.30pm on Monday when they were confronted and threatened by three thugs, armed with a baseball bat and an axe.

It is thought the security guard, 47, pushed his workmate back into their van and took the full brunt of the attack.

He then ran down Station Road and along Rossland Place to find help.

Luckily, 27-year old Sophia, originally from Sweden, and local lad David, 21, had both done first aid courses in the past so knew not to give the shocked victim a hot drink and tried to stem the bleeding instead.

She added: 'I didn"t have a bandage so I put a towel on the wound and used one of my scarves to make a sling.

'It was such a nasty cut - there was flesh sticking out of his left hand.

'We phoned the police and an ambulance and then the man"s office for him, because all he was concerned about was the other guy.'

Shocked villagers were left reeling by the attack this week.

Local shopkeeper David Woodrow said: 'This isn"t the first time that this bank has been targeted - in October last year I disturbed people trying to break into the back of the bank.

'It"s a catch-22 because it"s a nice quiet place but that makes the bank an easy target for robbers. The security van comes round at a regular time so they would have been watching out for it.'

The first suspect is described as around 5"8' tall wearing a dark hooded top.

The second man was wearing a dark coloured hooded top and dark coloured jogging bottoms. There is no description for the third man.

Swarms of police and forensic officers cordoned off the scene to preserve the evidence and a wide-scale search is on to find the robbers.

Detective Inspector Mark McGowan, who is heading up the investigation said: 'It may be that someone noticed these three men either before or after the robbery and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and thinks they may have seen something suspicious at the time to contact us.

'Any information, however insignificant, could assist us in our enquiry and I would ask that you contact us.

'If you don"t want to talk to a police officer then call the Crimestoppers line where you can give the information anonymously.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Johnstone Police Office on 01505 404015. Or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A G4S Cash Services (UK) spokesperson said: 'The crew of one of our vehicles was attacked during a violent incident on Station Road, Bishopton and we can confirm that one of our couriers suffered minor injuries.

'We take any attack on our staff very seriously and are committed to maintaining their safety and that of the general public.'

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This article appeared in The Gazette 08 Apr 09

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