Robber pointed gun at Burnley shop staff (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Robber pointed gun at Burnley shop staff

2:32pm Friday 29th June 2012 in Burnley By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

THREE shop assistants were left ‘badly shaken’ following an armed robbery at a Burnley store.

The raider, who was wearing a balaclava, walked into the Spar store in Todmorden Road, Burnley, and pointed a black handgun at the terrified staff.

He demanded they hand over cash from the till.

They placed cash into carrier bag before handing it to the robber, who then ran off across the car park.

Shop owner Nick Rumboll said his staff had been left ‘badly shaken’ following the experience.

He said: “The man has come in and pointed the gun over the till and told the staff he is not afraid of using it. They have handed over the money and have been left badly shaken by the experience. As they work for Spar they have been offered telephone counselling.

“In all he was in the shop for about a minute. We have CCTV and have given it to the police, who are looking through it and seeing if he has been in the shop before.”

Mr Rumboll said staff were still ‘nervous’ in the evenings and he has started going back to the shop at night to reassure staff and check everything is ok.

It is not the first time the Spar has been targeted, in April two youths jumped over the counter and stole some cash from the till.

Mr Rumboll said: “It has happened twice in a couple of months now so we are looking at improving security, including employing a security guard.”

The armed robber is described as being white, around 5ft 9inches tall, medium build and wearing a dark coloured balaclava with light grey hoodie, a black jacket, blue jeans and brown trainers or shoes.

He spoke in a Burnley accent and is said to have bushy brown or blonde eye brows, hazel eyes and blotchy skin. Police have only just released details of the incident which happened at 10pm on Saturday June 23.

DC Steven Acres, from Burnley CID, said: “It is unclear whether the weapon used was real or an imitation firearm.”

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