TWO masked men held up a shop with crowbars before bursting into the streets with a large amount of cash in a terrifying teatime raid.
CCTV images have been released by police of the armed robbery which took place at the Post Office within the Co-op store on Hoyland Road, Hoyland Common, last Friday at around 5.30pm.
The suspects, who covered their faces, are reported to have threatened staff with crowbars, before taking a substantial amount of cash from within the safe. One of the men is believed to have left the store via the main entrance, the other is believed to have left via a fire exit.
Both are believed to have run down Central Street and through the Saville Court complex towards the Queen Street/Tinker Lane area.
An investigation is underway and officers have been at the scene carrying out initial enquiries.
A spokesman for the Co-op, said: “Fortunately, no one was hurt, although colleagues in the store at the time are obviously shaken by the incident and are receiving support.
“We take retail crime very seriously and implement a wide range of measures to deter criminal activity and aid convictions.
“The store reopened the following day to serve the community and we appeal for anyone with information to come forward to the police.”
A petrol station and a betting shop were also broken into between the evening of Friday and early hours of Saturday morning though police do not believe the incidents are connected.
The Jet petrol station on Market Street is also believed to have suffered a theft of £5,000 worth of cigarettes and £150 cash at around 3.30am on Saturday. A source, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the shop was closed at the time of the crime and that no one was injured.
An incident during the same period happened at Ladbrokes betting shop on King Street, but staff refused to divulge details of what had happened. A window at the shop is now boarded up.
A Ladbrokes Coral spokesman said: “We can confirm an incident took place and we are now assisting police with their enquiries.”
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “The incidents are not linked and there has not been an increase in crime in the Hoyland area.”
Yesterday police released the CCTV stills of the suspects at the Co-op store and are keen to hear from any witnesses or anyone who may hold information.
If you have any information about the incident please call 101 quoting crime reference number 14/188493/18. You can also give information to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.
