Helsby petrol station robbed at knifepoint for second time in weeks

Dec 23 2010 By Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

Petrol station robbery

A BALACLAVA wearing robber threatened staff with a kitchen knife and stole cash from a busy petrol station till point just weeks after a strikingly similar attack.

The thief, clad in dark clothing and a balaclava, targeted the Three Ways Garage, Chester Road, Helsby, at about 9.30pm on Monday.

Cheshire Police spokesperson Louise Hughes said: “The offender is a white male, about 5ft 10in tall, aged late teens to early 20s, of slender build. He was wearing a balaclava, black jacket and black trousers and carrying a kitchen knife.”

The member of staff manning the petrol station was not injured but was described as ‘extremely shaken’.

In October, the same cashier was working when a man – this time using a scarf to cove r his face – threatened staff and demanded cash. It is believed the same offender may be responsible for both robberies.

The manager of the Total Petrol Station said: “The member of staff is a bit shaken up at the moment, he feels a bit targeted.

“In the mean time we will be serving through the pay window once it gets later in the evening and we are starting to double- man shifts.”

Western Rural Neighbourhood Policing Unit Inspector Phil Hodgson of Cheshire Police said: “There are security concerns for any person working alone as a cashier if you haven’t got good security access. At a lot of petrol stations you aren’t allowed in after a certain time, and in terms of safety I would like to that applied.”

Anyone who has any information on the incident is asked to ring Cheshire police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.