Cash box grabbed in Wolverhampton post office van raid

Police officers were called to Showell Circus in Bushbury at 10.16am after a robber snatched the box from a postal worker and made off down Annan Avenue.

It is understood that there was a getaway car behind the row of shops waiting for the thief.

Detectives were at the scene today interviewing members of the public and business owners as they try to piece together details of the robbery.

The post office employee who was carrying the cash box was understood to have not been injured in the attack.

It is the second raid at the same set of shops in a month.

On April 25, four masked men made off with cash and cigarettes during a dawn robbery at a shop on Showell Circus.

On that occasion, a member of staff was pinned to the floor and then locked in a store cupboard.

There are yet to be any arrests regarding that incident.

Steve Coles, aged 42, of Dickinson Avenue, who was the victim in that attack, says the shops have become an easy target.

He added: "I was opening the store up at around 5.15am, and four men in masks came in and pinned me down.

"They locked me in a store cupboard and got off with cigarettes and, I'd say, £3,500 in cash.

"There's not enough security around here. It's easy for robbers because they can get away down a number of roads off the circle.

"Cameras need to be pointed down the road at the back of the shops – that would help things," he said.

Sue Jenkins, 38, of Old Fallings Crescent, said: "These shops are easy pickings.

"It's not the first robbery, and unless things change, it won't be the last.

"I won't let my mum come up here on her own, and I certainly wouldn't come up here after dark.

"This area hasn't got the best reputation, and you can see why people think it is 'shady' when you see this happening first thing in a morning.

"You've got so many exits leading from these shops, anyone can make a clean get-away."

West Midlands Police have called on anyone with any information to contact Wolverhampton CID on the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.