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Knife raiders hit service stations

From the Abingdon Herald, first published Thursday 27th Jul 2006.

WITH their faces hidden by sinister home-made masks, two robbers were caught on camera holding up two service stations at knifepoint.

The images showing the pair as they raided the service stations in the early hours of Monday and Tuesday last week at Faringdon and Frilford were released by police on the day figures confirmed a jump in violent crime in Oxfordshire.

In both cases the robbers threatened staff in the early hours with a knife before fleeing with cash.

Detectives believe the robberies were almost certainly committed by the same two men their features hidden by the DIY masks of material with eye-holes cut out.

In the first raid, the two men forced open a till at the Acorn Service Station, Park Road, Faringdon, at 1.55am on the Monday.

The raiders placed a bin between the automatic doors and went behind the counter to open a till, before they were challenged by a worker.

Police spokeman Tim Wiseman said: "One of the males showed that he had a knife with him and demanded money.

"A locked strongbox was opened and further cash taken."

They stole about £500. The worker was left uninjured.

Twenty-four hours later, Frilford Service Station was raided.

The duo forced open the automatic doors and used a holder for shopping baskets to stop them closing.

After demanding money at knifepoint, they took about £85 from the till and 30 packets of cigarettes.

Manager Sarah Rashid said: "The cashier had a slight cut on his hand and was shaken, but was back at work straightaway. Obviously, we are concerned because there is always a chance of it happening again."

Det Con John Ablett, of Abingdon CID, said: "Both incidents involved sudden and very frightening attacks by two hooded men, one of whom was wielding a knife and making threats.

"We have excellent CCTV images of both incidents and we strongly believe that both are linked.

"I hope that by releasing the images I may hear from anyone with information. I would like to ask anyone who was in these areas around the time of the raids to consider if they saw anything suspicious, particularly any vehicles.

"I also hope that by demonstrating how frightening these incidents were, that someone out there who may know who is responsible will get in touch."

In the Faringdon robbery, one of the men was about 5ft 9in tall with a slim to medium build. He wore a blue boiler suit, brown gloves and a white cloth hood/mask.

The second man was also of a similar height and build. He wore blue jeans, a dark blue shirt and a cream-coloured baseball cap with a dark logo on the front. He also had a white cloth hood/mask.

In the Frilford raid, one of the robbers wore a blue boiler suit and dark-coloured baseball cap, brown gloves and a white or grey cloth hood/mask.

His accomplice wore dark trousers, a light-coloured pin-striped shirt, cream baseball cap and a white cloth hood/mask.

Anyone with information can contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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