A traumatised 61-year-old Rochdale shopworker was held at gunpoint while a robber stole cash and cigarettes from a store on Monday afternoon.
The female victim was behind the counter at the P Connell shop on Benfield Street when the offender came into the store brandishing a handgun and demanding the contents of the till at around 4.30pm.
Frightened he would shoot, the woman handed over the cash, which the offender stuffed into a black bin-liner along with a number of cigarettes and his handgun, before making his escape.
“Unless you have been in the shoes of the woman who was threatened with a gun, it would be almost impossible to express just how frightened she was,” said Detective Sergeant Tim O’Callaghan.
“No-one should ever face such a violent threat at work and I am sure this terrifying incident will live in her memory forever.
“The best peace of mind we can give to the victim is to take this gun off the streets and lock this man up so he cannot target or intimidate anyone else.”
Police believe it is possible that the robber made his getaway in a silver Citroen that had a black roof.
He is described as being white, about 5ft 10in tall, of a medium build and wearing a black Superdry jacket with the hood pulled up and some sort of face covering.
He was also wearing black gloves, grey tracksuit bottoms and navy blue Adidas trainers.
Police are appealing for anyone who might have seen the thief going into or out of the store, or have witnessed a silver Citroen driving erratically or at high speed nearby, to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Image courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks.
