Help Find this Car

Police have released CCTV footage of a car they believe was used in a cash-box robbery in Worthing last Tuesday.

It happened around midday outside the Sainsbury store on Downland Business Park.

Two men approached the driver of a Loomis security van, threatened him and stole a cash box, before driving away in a blue Ford Mondeo followed by a black Subaru Impreza. Loomis are now offering a £5,000 reward for the arrest and charge of those responsible.

The Mondeo was abandoned and set on fire just before the junction of Northbrook Road and Leighton Avenue. Two men were seen to run to the waiting Subaru that had stopped in Northbrook Road. CCTV cameras captured the two cars passing and the resulting plume of smoke after the Mondeo was set alight.

Detective Sergeant Simon Dunn said: "The security guard has been receiving our full help and support following this carefully planned and violent robbery. We are doing everything we can to trace these men and are calling on the public for their help.

"The Mondeo and Subaru are seen in a broken convoy of cars before the Mondeo was abandoned and set on fire and I am keen to speak to anyone travelling in these cars. The Subaru was found in a small 'permit holders only' car park in Caxton Court, Langton Road, close to the Broadwater bridge Worthing, at around 2.45pm later that day. It is possible someone noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parking there prior to the Black Subaru's arrival. At this time we believe the offenders made off in a third vehicle.

"Prior to the discovery of the Subaru vehicle, two men were seen in Ivy Arch Road by the subway of the Broadwater Bridge breaking into the cash cassette box with a heavy implement, possibly an axe or a sledge hammer. They abandoned the cash box after successfully breaking into it. The men made off on foot through the subway under the bridge and emerged onto Bridge Road at around 12.20pm. Following an examination of the box, it was confirmed that the money inside had been stolen.

"The stolen money is likely to be stained with purple dye and it is possible the suspects may still have purple dye on their hands and clothes. If anyone has noticed anyone exchanging or attempting to exchange purple stained money or anyone with dye on their body or clothes they should contact police immediately. You may hold crucial information in this investigation."

The black Subaru Impreza using the cloned registration BP03 CUG was stolen in Lingfield within the past few weeks and has been using a number of cloned number plates registered to legitimate Subaru's. The blue Ford Mondeo, registration S22 OMH, was stolen in Brighton on 12 February 2011. Again the number plate displayed was a cloned number plate for a similar Mondeo. Police are keen to speak to anyone with information about where both these vehicles have been since being stolen.

The security van driver received severe bruising and was taken to Worthing Hospital for treatment. Another security guard attempted to intervene. He was shaken but uninjured.

One of the suspects is described as white, 30 to 40 years of age 6' to 6'3, of stocky build with a round face. He had stubble which was light or grey flecked in colour. He had a local or London accent. He was wearing a black baseball cap and black shell-suit type jacket, dark blue trousers and trainers which were dark with white colouring.  

The other man was slightly younger and slimmer. He was also white, between 5'7 and 5'9 wearing a black woolly hat dark jacket with dark, possibly olive green trousers and dark trainers.

No weapon was seen or mentioned during the robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Worthing CID on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Convoy or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111