Terrified staff confronted by gun-toting robber in balaclava

A man and a 53-year-old woman working at McColl’s in Redland feared for their lives when at 9.45pm, just 15 minutes before closing time, a balaclava-clad man entered brandishing what they believed to be a gun.

He demanded money from the till and left the shop with about £2,400.

Chippenham CID have examined the scene and are appealing for information. Police were making door-to-door enquiries in the Redland estate off Hungerdown Lane on Monday.

The suspect is described as white, in his late 20s, about 6ft tall, with short, dark hair. He was wearing dark tracksuit bottoms with vertical white stripes down the legs, a dark, three-quarter length jacket and black trainers.

The armed robbery is the most serious in a series of thefts at McColl’s in recent years.

Thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes and tobacco were taken in two overnight break-ins within six weeks in the summer of 2013, each time the burglars smashed the window with a drain cover. The previous April, staff were robbed at knifepoint.

One Redland resident said on Monday: “I didn’t see anything, just five police cars outside.

"Last time, my husband saw them running down the side of the house with their bags. It’s been better since they got the shutters, but now they just strike when they’re open.

"I think it’s awful the staff have to go through that.”

Acting Detective Sergeant Louise Randall, who is leading the investigation, said: “Fortunately no one was injured but the staff members were very shocked and frightened.

"We need to identify this man and ask that anyone who was in the area between 9pm and 10.30pm on Sunday comes forward.”

A McColl’s spokesman said: “We can confirm no colleagues were harmed during the incident. The health, safety and well-being of our colleagues is of utmost importance. We are working closely with the relevant authorities.”

Contact Acting Detective Sergeant Louise Randall at Chippenham CID on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.