Masked men in armed robbery at Ribble Valley hotel (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Masked men in armed robbery at Ribble Valley hotel

8:00am Friday 11th December 2009 in

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MASKED intruders armed with a crowbar tied up an assistant hotel manager before making off with a large amount of cash.

The men broke into the Calf’s Head Hotel in Worston, near Clitheroe, at 3am yesterday and dragged Michael Buhagair out of his bed.

He was then taken downstairs and forced to open the safe, before being tied up with the cord from a telephone.

Mr Buhagair was only able to raise the alarm when staff arrived at the hotel around 5am.

Police believe a burglary at a house on the same road that night is linked to the robbery.

Two sets of car keys were taken from the property and the offenders made off in a 57 registered white BMW M3 Coupe and a black Range Rover estate with a personalised plate.

The BMW was abandoned in Seathwaite Close, Huncoat, at around 4.45am but the Range Rover has still not been found.

Chris Medley, who has run the country hotel for 11 years with his wife Pamela, said around there were around a dozen guests that night.

He said: “In the middle of the night the duty manager was dragged from his bed by three or four guys dressed all in black with masks on. One had a crowbar.

“They brought him downstairs and made him open the safe. He did as he was told.

“They tied him up face down using cords from a phone in an office. He was there for around two hours until the cleaners arrived.

“He was traumatised by it, even though he was none the worse for wear physically. He was very shocked."

Mr Medley said Mr Buhagair had worked for the hotel for around three years.

“We will review our security after this but there is only so much we can do.”

The offenders, described as in their mid twenties, all wore dark clothing and were of medium build and with local accents.

They took more than £10,000, although the full amount has not been calculated.

Leading the investigation, DI Joanne Lightbown said: "These are two serious incidents in a short space of time during the night when offenders have taken a significant risk in being caught at either premises.

“These offences are rare occurances in the Ribble Valley, however in the run up to Christmas it is asked that owners of commercial premises take appropriate measures in terms of security and the amount of cash left vulnerable on the premises.”

Police are appealing for witnesses that may have seen anything suspicious in the Worston area throughout Wednesday evening and the early hours of Thursday.

The stolen vehicles are thought to have left the area via the A59 in convoy and may have arrived at Huncoat either using the route through Reed or through Whalley Road through Clayton-le-Moors and then Accrington.

Anyone with information is asked to call Clitheroe CID on 01200 458741 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.