Raiders armed with crowbars fled Post Office empty-handed

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http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... 3662711.jp

By Kirsty Nicolson
A POSTMASTER has spoken of his terror after crowbar-wielding raiders burst into his shop and trashed it – before fleeing empty-handed.
Glass flew when masked men hacked at the screen which divided Steve Clare (55) from the raiders when they targeted his Post Office in High Road, Elm, near Wisbech.

One even put his foot on the counter during the attack and tried to make it across, but was pushed back.

Realising he had probably pressed the panic alarm, and that they were fast running out of time until the police arrived, the robbers fled – but not before leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

The till, Post Office computer and the counter were all damaged in the attack which took place just after 5pm last Friday.

It was the third armed raid that Mr Clare has endured in his 19 years working at the branch.

He said: "They just came in demanding money.

"When I denied the request they started smashing the screen with crowbars.

"They hit it a couple of times and
virtually destroyed it, there was glass flying in the air.

"They then tried to get into the secure area, but I managed to stop them."

He said that at that point his wife Marilyn came in to see what the commotion was.

Mr Clare added: "She started screaming at them to get out. One took a swing at the till and smashed it and they smashed a chunk out of the counter.

"But by then they realised they were running out of time and they ran out."

Luckily Mr and Mrs Clare were uninjured. But he added: "It did shake us both up."

It is believed that the men fled the scene in a green Volvo, heading towards Friday Bridge.

The get-away car had been stolen from Sutton St James the previous night and was found on fire shortly after the attempted robbery.

n Anyone with information should call Detective Constable Rust on 0845 4564564, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

The full article contains 347 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
Last Updated: 11 January 2008 9:31 AM