Masked thugs threaten staff and customers in armed raid at Aldi
Armed raiders welding a suspected firearm struck at a Midlands supermarket, forcing 10 customers into a corner of the store.
The group threatened staff at the store but left without stealing any cash. They did, however, take a customer's mobile phone.
The three men, with their faces covered, stormed the Aldi store in Kingstanding, near Great Barr, at around 9pm on Monday.
Police say eyewitnesses reported one was armed with a weapon described as either a rifle or shotgun.
They threatened staff and customers and tried to force the store manager to open the safe before making off.
The offenders then escaped in a black vehicle, described as a new-style hatchback, possibly a Vauxhall Astra or a Ford Focus, which drove off along College Road, towards Birmingham.
Detective Inspector Tom Hadley, from West Midlands Police said: "There were about ten customers in the store when the robbery took place, who were ushered into a corner.
"We know three offenders, described as being black men went into the store, a fourth man was waiting in the car."
Officers are making inquiries at the scene and will be studying CCTV.
