Staff and customers left shocked by axe raid at West Bromwich shop
‘I was frightened – really terrified’.
Those are the words of the manager of a shop which was raided by an axe-wielding gang in West Bromwich.
Four men entered the store on July 18, threatening staff and making off with an unknown quantity of cash.
The group targeted the One Stop shop in Vicarage Road as a G4S worker entered the store to top-up cash in the ATM.
Speaking about the ordeal, manager Rakesh Aman said: “Everyone was shook up.
“It was the first time it’s happened.
“The store is family-owned and we’ve been here for 23 years.
“Unfortunately it’s the way things are going – I don’t think we are the only ones suffering.
“We’re hearing about it all the time. We’re looking to improve security – whatever we can do we will, but there’s only so much you can put in effect.
“There were plenty of customers in the store at the time, but there’s not much you can do – it’s not worth losing your life over.
“They were in and out within a couple of minutes.”
'They must have followed the van'
The 32-year-old, from West Bromwich, was in the back office at the time of the raid, said he watched the incident on CCTV.
He said: “They were parked in a blue VW Golf in the car park and they were waiting for a security vehicle delivering the ATM cash.
"As soon as the guy came in they rushed into the place – they came in with axes.
"They were just after the security guy – they must have followed the van here.
“There were two staff behind the counter and the gang were telling them to step back – they forced them back up against the wall.
“The customers were just in shock – you could see a few were really scared.”
Rakesh pressed the panic button, with the alarm also being raised from the All Saints C of E school opposite.
And when he tried to step out of the office he was stopped by a gang member holding an axe – with another staff member being forcibly told to “get back” and away from them.
The police arrived within five minutes of the robbery – but the four men had already fled the scene.
Enquiries continue, West Midlands Police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the force by calling 101 anytime.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote log number 1225 of July 18.
