Luton Robber Makes Off With "Substantial" Amount Of Cash

16 August 2013, 15:35 | Updated: 16 August 2013, 15:41

Police want to hear from anyone who saw a man escaping from the FarmFoods store in Luton after stealing a "substantial" amount of money.

Bedfordshire Police have told Heart it happened at around 6.20pm last night (Thursday 15th Aug) when the offender pushed his way past a store worker who was having a cigarette near to a fire exit at the shop in Park Street, Luton.

The offender made his way to the store office where the manager was banking the day's takings and demanded that he handed over the cash. After taking the money, the offender made the manager smash several computers and the CCTV camera as well as making him hand over the CCTV hard drive. The offender then fled through the same fire exit and towards Church Street.

The offender is described as a black male, in his late 20s or early 30s, around five feet eleven inches tall, of medium build and wearing a black hooded top and blue jeans.

Officers are currently reviewing footage from several other CCTV cameras around the town centre but are keen to speak with anyone who may have been in the area and seen the offender either before or after the incident.

Detective Constable Tom Hamm, who is investigating the raid told Heart: "This was a very audacious robbery which took place in broad daylight at a time when the town would have been swarming with people finishing work and making their way home. The Mall would have only closed a short time beforehand and I am positive that someone will have seen something.

I'm particularly keen to speak with witnesses who would have been waiting for buses in Church Street, right opposite the fire exit which the offender used to enter and leave the store. The road was very busy with pedestrians, motorists and those waiting for public transport so I would urge anyone who may have seen anything to get in touch."

If you have information relating to this incident, contact DC Hamm, in confidence, on 01582 394498, the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.