West Oxfordshire post office staff scared after Witney robbery

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A GUN robbery has left post office employees ‘worried for their own safety’, the manager has revealed.

Two men in balaclavas stormed Burwell Farm Post Office in Witney on Saturday morning, armed with weapons resembling hand guns.

They threatened a female staff member before making off with the float, which was estimated to contain around £80 in cash.

A 31-year-old from Witney was arrested on suspicion of robbery and released under investigation, meaning at least one of the robbers is still on the run.


The incident is the third post office robbery in West Oxfordshire in just six years, following similar raids in Bampton in 2012 and Minster Lovell earlier this year.

The employee who faced the robbers was shaken, and manager Chris Liley, who runs another post office in North Leigh, revealed other staff were also struggling.

He said: “Obviously there’s the initial stress factor and everyone’s trying to get their minds right for work.

“But it’s not just staff here, the staff in North Leigh are worried for their own safety.

“After Bampton was robbed a few years ago and Minster Lovell too it’s always been a worry.”

Mr Liley and wife Anna form half of the four-strong team at the Witney post office and he admitted the robbery had taken its toll.

He said: “It hits you hard because we’re like a work family.

“Customers have been very supportive and given us flowers and chocolates.

“It’s difficult juggling everything because small businesses don’t have spare staff lying around.

“When something like this happens it’s difficult to get everything done as well as serving all our customers.

“But we’ll always manage, whatever comes at us.”

At least one of the robbers was still on the loose yesterday afternoon, with members of the public urged to call 101 if they see anyone matching the description circulated by Thames Valley Police.

The first robber is described as a young man, who was wearing a black balaclava, black zip-up hooded top, black trainers, black jogging bottoms and black gloves.


He was of slim to medium build and his skin colour is not known.

The second - thought to be the man described by witnesses as being chased by police - was also wearing a black balaclava or scarf around his face, khaki green or grey hooded top, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers with blue markings.

He is about 5ft 10ins tall and of slim to medium build.

Investigations are continuing and police are urging anybody who witnessed the incident or who believes they may know the identity of either of the offenders to call 101, quoting reference number 43180274804.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.