Fake police raid garage
Armed robbers posing as police officers tricked staff at a Wolverhampton petrol station into handing over CCTV film before tying them up and stealing thousands of pounds.
Two men, one brandishing a handgun, stole cash from the safe and also snatched £15,000 of cigarettes in the raid on the Total petrol station in Millfields Road, Bilston, last night.
Police said they fooled the garage manager and his wife into letting them behind the counter with a story that they were investigating an incident and needed to check their camera footage.
Once they had removed the video tape, they seized the couple and bound their feet and hands together. They then took the keys to the safe and helped themselves to the contents.
The manager was kicked by the pair during the raid, which took place at about 9.45pm. He and his wife, both from Sri Lanka, were terrified by their ordeal but uninjured.
The raiders, who fled through a back door, are described as Asian and aged 25 to 35. One is heavily built and balding, about 5ft 11in tall with very dark skin and dark stubble. The other is slimmer and slightly smaller with a lighter complexion and short, styled black hair.
DC Sean Brennan, based at Wednesfield police station, today urged businesses to be on their guard against phoney officers.
"We are not sure whether or not the gun, held by the bigger man, was real but this was, in any event, a very frightening incident and a very significant amount of money was taken," he said.
He urged businesses to ask for identity cards if they receive a visit from anyone purporting to be an officer.
The service station was today still cordoned off as inquiries continued.
Witnesses are asked to call 0845 113 5000.
