Armed gang in bank raid drama
Armed raiders burst into a Black Country bank and forced terrified customers to face the wall as they made off with a bag of cash.
The thieves, who carried hand guns, dropped stolen notes in a car park behind Barclays in Blackheath after anti-theft dye leaked over them, turning them red and useless. It is the second daylight robbery at a bank in Sandwell in two weeks.
The Lloyds TSB in Wednesbury was hit on July 9.
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The three men came into the Birmingham Road branch of Barclays at around 4.30pm yesterday while shoppers and business people were doing their banking.
One man had to be taken to hospital after suffering a leg injury when he was hit by one of the raiders for refusing to hand over his mobile phone.
The 59-year-old was taken away in a wheelchair covered by a blanket.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said he was taken to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.
A couple who run a business in the town, but did not want to be named, were inside when the raiders arrived.
They were banking their day's takings when they were left fearing for their lives.
The woman said: "Three men came in wearing crash helmets but otherwise they just had normal clothes on, not motorcycle leathers.
"They had two hand guns and a holdall with another gun in it.
"They just told everyone to face the wall and started shouting orders at the staff. It probably went on for five minutes but it felt a lot longer.
"The staff were just brilliant. They were so calm. I'm just so scared now I think about it.
"I could hear the robbers demanding a phone off someone. They thought he was trying to call the police."
After the robbery a small pile of £20, £10 and £5 notes could be seen at the rear of the bank behind a police cordon. The money was red from anti-theft dye.
CCTV footage from a network of cameras around the town was being analysed today following the robbery.
Councillor Mary Docker, who is in charge of the CCTV network, said: "A device containing red dye was in amongst the money.
"The footage shows something explodes inside a car, the three men getting out and then back in. I am pleased that they did not get away with the money."
Police today revealed the men fled the scene in a blue Vauxhall Astra, registration number DV04 UAK.
In the previous raid at Lloyds TSB in Wednesbury's Walsall Street shots were fired at the ground close to the foot of a Group 4 Securicor worker who was carrying a full cash box.nextpage
