Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a bank in Chester last week

Jan 5 2012 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

POLICE are hunting a masked man who broke into a Chester bank and stole cash.

At just before 3.30pm on Friday police were called to the Lloyds TSB bank in Christleton Road after reports of an armed robbery.

Staff were left shaken after a man, who had covered his face with a black cloth, entered the bank before smashing a pane of glass at the cashiers’ counter with a rock.

The man then stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the counter before fleeing the scene on foot toward the Chapel Lane/Cherry Grove Lane and Filkins Lane area.

No-one was hurt during the robbery, but police are urging witnesses or anyone who may have seen someone take a rock from a nearby garden to come forwards and help with the investigation.

DC Andy Collinson said the robber may have stolen the rock, which was sandstone and covered in dirt, from a nearby wall, garden or rockery before using it in the attack.

“Fortunately the bank workers were not harmed by this man, but were left shook up after their ordeal,” said DC Collinson.

“I would ask local residents to think back to that afternoon and whether they remember anyone matching the description of the suspect in the area, similarly any local residents who may have had their garden wall or rockery disturbed to contact the police.”

Police have released a description of the robber, who is described as white, 6ft tall, of medium build and dressed in a dark-green waterproof hooded jacket and black tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone who may have witnessed the robbery or any motorists who may have seen the suspect fleeing the scene should call DC Andy Collinson at Chester CID on 101 quoting incident 554 of December 30.