Post office tricksters steal large cash haul

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HUNDREDS of pounds were stolen by tricksters when they targeted Cranbrook's post office on Friday.

Police are investigating and this week the Post Office urged witnesses to come forward.

Three men went into the Welcome store on High Street at about 3.30pm and approached the post office counter at the back of the shop.

As one man asked for a large number of euros to be changed into £10 notes, the other two concentrated on distracting a second counter assistant.

The man continued to ask for notes to be changed, from euros to pounds and back into specific euro notes which the assistant couldn't do.

The transaction was cancelled but in the confusion hundreds of pounds were taken.

In a similar incident on Saturday just before 1pm, two men carried out a distraction theft at Robertsbridge post office and made off with £430.

Post Office spokesman Sally Hopkins said: "The people who run our post office branches provide important services to local communities.

"Any robbery or attempted robbery is not only traumatic for those involved but is also an attack on the local community.

"We would always urge anyone with information to urgently contact the police."

The men seen in Cranbrook were described as dark European and all aged between 25 and 30.

They drove off in a green Renault Laguna with a rear spoiler.

Police are now examining CCTV footage.

Anyone with any information about the Cranbrook post office theft is urged to phone 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting crime reference number YY/002163/12.