Gang with spanner in masked raid on Ribble Valley bookies (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Gang with spanner in masked raid on Ribble Valley bookies

9:53am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News

THREE armed men wearing balaclavas raided a Ribble Valley bookmakers.

The gang targeted the Bet Fred bookmakers, in Berry Lane, Longridge on Monday, police said.

They threatened the female member of staff who was alone in the shop, before jumping over the counter and taking cash from the till. They were carrying a spanner.

Officers said they also took the staff member’s purse and mobile phone before leaving through the front door around 8.30pm.

DI Jill Johnston, from Accrington CID is leading the investigation, she said: “Fortunately, the lady who was working at the time was not injured but she has understandably been left shaken by the ordeal and so I would appeal to anyone with any information to come forward and contact us.

“We are still at the early stages of the investigation but we are looking into the possibility that this may be linked to a similar incident at the Bet Fred store in Lostock Hall, Preston on the Friday night before (21).

“I would appeal to anybody that witnessed this robbery or thinks that they saw a car driving away from the scene to come forward.”

Police believe the men left the scene in a black or dark blue Vauxhall Vectra.

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