Armed robbery at Maltby bookies

They struck at the Betfred bookmakers on Muglet Lane in the town at 7.35pm last Thursday.

A female member of staff was counting the cash in the shop when two men came in.

One of the men, who was wearing a black balaclava, approached the counter carrying a weapon and said: “Open the door.”

The member of staff was locked behind the door and the man kicked it until both the door and door frame fell down so he could get behind the counter.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “He asked the member of staff to put the money in a bag, which they did and he then left the premises with the other man who was holding the door open. They left the bookmakers with approximately £4,000 in cash.”

Police have not revealed what kind of a weapon the men used in the raid, but they have issued an appeal for witnesses.

A member of staff at the bookmakers said his colleague had been left ‘shaken’ by the incident.

“She is off work this week. She was the one who was here when they kicked the door in. She is very shaken up,” he said.

Keith Stringer, a town councillor and neighbourhood watch member, said he was shocked by the attack.

“We read and hear about things like this happening nearly every day, but when it happens in your own town, it brings home the fact that everyone has to be more vigilant,” he said.

“Incidents like this can happen anywhere and at anytime. This is where groups of people, especially Neighbourhood Watch Schemes can come to the fore. Watching out for each other and being able to report any crime related incident whether you live on a street or in a complex helps deter these actions.”

“The more people who join these schemes the more such crimes like this one are harder to commit and the better chance there will be of catch the culprits.”

Witnesses, or anyone with information about the incident or the robbers, should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident 998 of 10th January. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.