Traders' shock as armed robbers raid bookmakers and flee with cash
TRADERS have spoken of their shock after a bookmakers in Hyson Green was raided by armed robbers.
Two men armed with a knife and a suspected firearm threatened staff and stole cash from Ladbrokes, in Radford Road, at about 8.40pm on Saturday.
The suspects ran off in the direction of St Paul's Avenue.
No members of staff or customers were injured in the robbery.
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Tariq Mahmood, owner of computer and mobile phone shop Get Connected, in Radford Road, said he had been shocked by the incident.
He said: "I'm gob-smacked. I feel sorry for the people who were in the store at the time. It must have been a traumatic experience."
Jaz Thakur, who works at design and print shop Thakur Press, also in Radford Road, said: "This is shocking. I've worked here for ten years and never seen anything like it."
However, Mohammed Yaqub, manager at mobile phone repair specialist Techdotcom, said he was not surprised.
"Burglaries happen a lot on this road," he said. "This robbery is a sign of the worsening state of the country. People can't get jobs, don't have money and turn to crime. I think it'll get worse before it gets better."
A spokesman for Ladbrokes said: "Any incident like this is distressing for those involved, but our staff are extremely well trained to deal with such situations and this ensured that they remained safe and unharmed.
"We have excellent security procedures and first-class CCTV, the images from which the police are using to investigate the incident."
The offenders were both about 6ft tall, of medium build, and in their early 20s.
One man was wearing dark tracksuit bottoms, a light grey tracksuit top with a yellow and black bandana covering his face.
The other suspect was wearing dark clothing with his face half covered.
DC Jason Wood, from Radford Road CID, is urging three customers who witnessed the incident to come forward.
He added: "The two staff members in the bookmakers were left incredibly shaken but thankfully not physically hurt."
Anyone with any information about the robbery is asked to call DC Wood on 101, extension 802 4516, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Comments
by Chewchewchew
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 6:49PM
“Black, white, Asian, mixed race.... unless every inch of skin was covered up surely someone can come up with this information.”