£20,000 robbers force staff into toilet at Stourbridge shop
Raiders burst into a Black Country convenience store threatening staff and barricading them in a toilet before making off with thousands of pounds in cash, stock and cigarettes.
Up to £20,000 worth of cigarettes, cash and National Lottery scratch cards were taken in the raid at the shop in Stourbridge.
Staff were preparing to open up the One Stop convenience store, in the small parade of shops in The Broadway, Norton, when the attack happened on Wednesday.
Workers had taken a delivery of morning newspapers when two attackers appeared and threatened the staff with weapons.
They were shoved inside into a nearby toilet as the thieves raided counters to steal cigarettes in the raid at about 5. 50am.
It is believed they bungled their haul into a waiting vehicle at the rear entrance to the store off Whittington Road before making their escape. Staff managed to break their way out a short time later. The store was forced to close until 11am while staff helped with the clear up.
Store assistant manager Dan Baynam, who was not working at the time, said: "They managed to make off with a lot of stock between them. Lucky no-one was injured but it was still a shock for them. They were barricaded in a toilet for a while while they stole the cigarettes and the other items."
No-one at One Stop Stores Brownhills head office was available for comment.
