Crowbar and sledgehammer wielded in Tesco robbery - updated

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 14/07/2007

At 2:42pm this afternoon, Saturday 14 July, two armed robbers attacked security guards at the Tesco store on Silk Street as they were loading cash into an ATM machine.

The robbers each carried a weapon, one a sledgehammer the other a crowbar; one of the security guards was hit with the crowbar and received treatment from an ambulance crew to swelling and bruising to his shoulder.

Taxi drivers from Castleton Private Hire saw the incident and its aftermath.

One witness said he saw three men get out of a Ford Transit Van, "they were all wearing black masks and the man carrying the hammer also had a black bag into which he loaded the stolen cash".

Having loaded the bag with the stolen cash the robbers ran to their getaway car, a red Citroen Picasso and, and drove off at high speed.

One of the thieves has been described as well built and of average height.

An estimated five police vehicles attended the incident.

Tesco refused to comment and a police investigation is underway.

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UPDATE

Having left Tesco the men drove to a nearby cul-de-sac, The Green, off Royle Road where they abandoned the Picasso and got into another car, believed to be a silver Seat Leon that was already parked on The Green.

Police Officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw the robbery, or who saw the men abandoning the Picasso and getting into the Seat Leon on The Green.

Anyone with any further information on this incident is asked to contact Rochdale CID on 0161 856 4643 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.