Chester bank robbers may have torched getaway car

May 21 2008 by Richard Fletcher, Chester Chronicle

BANK robbers who attacked a security guard may have torched their powerful getaway car only streets away.

The blazing Subaru Impreza was discovered by members of the public behind a house in Panton Road, Hoole, at 2.18pm today (Wednesday, May 21).

Emergency services believe the car was used by bank robbers who had grabbed a security guard only minutes beforehand. A Group 4 security guard was making a delivery to the Lloyds TSB Bank on Hoole Road, Chester, at about 2.15pm when he was attacked and had a black bag stolen.

No-one was injured but police cars were scouring the area after the robbery.

People living along Panton Road then pointed a fire crew to an alleyway accessed via Lime Grove.

The Subaru was previously stolen from Manchester, and had been painted black. The number plates were removed before it was set alight.

Firefighter Jim Payne said: “We believe this vehicle may have been the getaway vehicle from the bank robbery. It is unconfirmed but all the evidence points to it.”