Co-op steps up security after Midlands armed robberies on same day

Robbers, believed to have been carrying weapons, struck at branches in Wolverhampton and Tividale.

The branch on Penn Road, Wolverhampton, was targeted at around 7.45am on Thursday.

Police said the offenders threatened staff, before escaping in a vehicle with cigarettes and cash. No-one was injured.

An hour earlier, a gang targeted a Co-op branch in Regent Road, Tividale.

Again, police said several offenders threatened staff, this time fleeing in a vehicle empty-handed. Police believe that the two raids may be linked.

West Midlands Police spokesman Pete Edney said high-visibility and targeted patrols would continue in the area while investigations were carried out.

Midlands Co-operative Society runs the Tividale shop.

Its spokeswoman Sara Leung said: "The colleagues who were on site at the time of this incident are shaken but otherwise unhurt, and we are doing everything we can to support them at this time.

"We are now assisting the police with their investigations."

She added that there would be additional security in place from today.

The Wolverhampton store is run by The Midcounties Co-operative, which would not confirm whether any extra security measures would be put in place at the branch. Company spokeswoman Laura O'Meara said the store had reopened yesterday and that staff were assisting police with their inquiries.

Police said that in both incidents a gang of 'several' raiders had threatened staff.

Money

In 2008 the Wolverhampton store fell victim to a botched robbery when raiders dumped stolen cash as they fled from police.

The masked thieves had burst into the shop armed with a crowbar, which they left lying in the store's car park, along with the money.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Acquisitive Crime team at Force CID in Bloxwich on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.