Customer injured in Cannock shop knife raid
A customer suffered cuts to his arms after a man wielding a knife attempted to rob a greengrocer's in Cannock as horrified shoppers looked on.
Police were called to Jessica's Fresh Foods, in Market Street, Cannock at 2.30pm yesterday.
The man had attempted to take cash from the tills but fled empty-handed and rode away on a motorbike.
A 34-year-old man from Cannock, who was a customer in the greengrocer's, was injured and was taken to Stafford Hospital. His injuries were not life-threatening.
A woman was also knocked over and was treated for minor injuries.
People in the area today said the incident was 'frightening' and called for more police presence around the town centre.
Mary Heath, aged 71, of Huntington Terrace Road, Cannock, had been shopping in the town centre around the same time Jessica's was targeted.
She said: "I went down there for fruit and veg but I couldn't get it because it had been cordoned off with police tape.
"I asked someone what was wrong and they said someone had been stabbed. I was shocked. I've been going to that shop for years. There was a police car there and an ambulance by the post office."
Sam Marsh, 22, a shop assistant at Shoe Zone in The Forum indoor shopping centre, said: "I think it's terrible. It just shows what kind of world we live in. They need to have more police on foot around town. It's getting out of hand."
Ann Evans, 52, manager at Clarks shoe shop in The Forum, added: " It's a bit unnerving knowing it happened on your doorstep."
Cannock Chase Council leader Councillor George Adamson said the situation was very 'worrying'. He said: "It's very frightening. It seems to be a sign of the times with cuts and people getting desperate."
Ch Insp Carl Ratcliffe, local policing team commander for Cannock, said the offender was wearing a blue and white helmet, a blue and white biker jacket. Anyone with information can call police on 101.
