Female staff threatened in raid on Haslingden bookies

11:30am Monday 10th November 2008

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A BETTING shop in Haslingden was raided by weapon-wielding robbers.

The three men, all with their faces covered, stormed the Ladbrokes branch, Manchester Road, and threatened two terrified female staff with bars or sticks, police said.

Two of the three – who also claimed to have a machete – then took an “undisclosed amount of cash” while the third kept watch.

Minutes later, they made their escape down an alleyway at the side of the shop that leads towards Pleasant Street and Dale Street.

Detectives are now studying CCTV from a nearby house as they aim to find clues to the identity of the raiders, who struck at around 9.10pm on Friday.

Det Sgt Ben Hodgkinson, from Rossendale CID, said: “This was a very frightening incident for both the female staff and customers alike.

“The people involved were prepared to use weapons and it is only good luck that no-one was hurt.

“I appeal for anyone who witnessed the offence or saw anything suspicious to get in touch with police.”

On Saturday, the betting shop was open as usual, but staff declined to comment on the robb-ery.

A landlord at the opposite Black Bull Hotel pub told how he saw the incident unfold from an upstairs room.

Bill Wade, 56, said: “I saw three lads coming out of the alleyway on their way in.

“I saw them milling about in the front of it first, and then two ran in while one stood outside the door.

“Then about a minute later they came running out.”

Anyone with information should contact Rossendale CID on 01706 237442 or Crimestoppers anony-mously on 0800 555111.