Caught on camera: Armed raider strikes at bank
This is the moment an armed robber struck at a bank in Cradley Heath, as detectives today revealed they were linking three raids over a month.
In each raid a man, aged in his 40s to 50s, has demanded money from staff, whilst threatening the cashier with a gun and detectives now believe the same man was involved in each of the crimes.
The robber first struck on January 31, when he walked into the HSBC on Cradley Heath High Street and produced a handgun before requesting that the cashier handed over money. In fear for her safety, the member of staff walked away from the counter and the would-be thief fled.
On February 17, the same man is believed to have struck at Lloyds TSB on Bearwood Road, where his attempts were foiled again.
Dc Lisa Shepherd, from Sandwell and Dudley serious acquisitive crime team, is investigating. She said: "The same man is believed to have been involved in each of these crimes and, most recently, he took a more direct approach to ensure he did not leave empty handed.
"No one has been injured in any of the raids, but each time staff, usually women, have been threatened with a gun, causing them to fear for their lives.
The main offender is described as white, around 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, of medium build, aged in his 40s or 50s and he has been known to wear a black beanie hat or hooded top, light coloured trainers and dark gloves.
In the Lloyds TSB offence the robber carried a Marks and Spencer carrier bag and wore a dark coat with a white logo on the right arm. In the Booze Corner raid the offender also wore large glasses. His accomplice in the latest crime was in his 20s and wore a black top with a GioGio logo in bright green across the front. He also wore dark jeans and a bright blue Voi logo on the pockets.
All of the robberies have taken place between 12noon and 2.30pm.
Anyone with information should contact the team in Force CID at Harborne on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
