POLICE are seeking witnesses after a masked gang armed with a hammer stole cigarettes and cash from a Co-op store in Chester.
Two female shop assistants were left shaken after three or possibly four men burst into the shop in Church Road, Saughall, at about 8.45pm on bank holiday Monday when four customers were inside.
One woman was held at the main shop counter, where the raiders bundled cigarettes from the display into a black bin bag and took the till drawer.
Meanwhile, one gang member armed with a hammer came in from the rear of the store and frogmarched the other shop assistant to a back room, where she was forced to open a safe and the contents were put into a bin bag.
Police say a black Audi getaway car was waiting outside. Statements have been taken from witnesses and CCTV footage is being examined.
Locals say police asked the shop assistants to change into another set of clothing at the scene so their uniforms could undergo a forensic examination.
A spokesman for The Co-operative Food said: “On Monday, August 27, at about 8.45pm our Co-operative food store on Church Road in Saughall was raided by four masked men. Cigarettes and a quantity of cash was stolen.
“At the time there were four customers and two members of staff in the store. They are understandably shaken, but thankfully nobody was hurt.
“CCTV footage has been given to the police who are investigating. As with any incident such as this, we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward.”
Police are asking witnesses to ring 101 quoting incident number 835 of August 27 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
