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Armed robbers in station terror raid

by Damon Wilkinson
29/ 4/2008

ARMED robbers barricaded themselves inside a petrol station on Saturday night before threatening an attendant with a meat cleaver.

The terrifying incident was just one of four robberies which took place in the Rochdale area that day.

Police say two men entered the BP station on Newhey Road at about 11.55pm. They secured the door with a piece of wood before threatening the 30-year-old cashier with a cleaver and another knife.

He opened the till and the thugs made off with about £120. The man armed with the cleaver was described as white wearing a hooded top with a black woolly hat and scarf. His accomplice was also white in a black Tshirt wearing a black and blue hat. The station manager, who asked not to be named, said in future customers would be served through the hatch at night-time.

He added: "Two men came into the shop with knives and started shouting at the cashier to open the till. He opened it and put his hands up and they grabbed what was inside and ran off. Luckily he was not hurt, just a bit shaken up, but he was back at work the next day. From now on we will keep the door locked at night and serve customers through the hatch."

Earlier a 12-year-old boy was hit over the head with a tree branch as a gang of youths stole his bike. The boy and his 13-year-old friend were pushing their bikes along Foxholes Road at about 6pm when they were threatened by a gang of five to eight Asian lads.

They tried to run off but were caught and then attacked before their bikes were taken. The 12-year-old suffered cuts to his head while the 13-year-old had scratches to his arms and face.

Meanwhile, a 34-year-old man was robbed as he walked home from a night out in the early hours of Saturday. He was walking along Whitehall Street at about 1.30am when he was assaulted by a gang of 10 Asian teenagers who stole his wallet and mobile phone.

And at about 10.30pm two teenagers robbed a 15-year-old boy of his mobile phone.

The attackers, described as white males aged about 17, asked the victim for the time as he walked along Milnrow Road before pinning his arms to his side and stealing his phone.