Bomb Threat Bank Robber Appeal

Описание: Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who has robbed a bank and a bookmaker using just a sports bag and a hand-written note.

Between 23rd March 2015 and 14 April 2015, the offender walked into two banks and a bookmakers shop carrying a black holdall and a hand-written note, upon which is written ‘Put the money in the bag or the bomb goes off’.

Terrified staff at one of the banks and the bookmakers then handed over cash before the man walked calmly away.

The first incident took place at 9.35am on Monday 23rd March 2015 at the William Hill bookmakers on Church Street, Eccles, where the offender walked away towards Eccles Bus Station having stolen £300 in cash.

He struck again at the Royal Bank of Scotland at Stretford Mall at 11.13am on Wednesday 1st April 2015, when he walked in and pretended to be interested in opening an account before slipping the note over to the cashier.

She handed over around £3000 in cash, which he put into the holdall before walking out of the bank towards Kingsway.

The final offence took place at Lloyds bank on Chorley Road, Swinton, at 1.46pm on Tuesday 14 April 2015.

But this time the cashier challenged the offender, asking: “Are you serious?”

He replied that he was, but when she challenged him again he turned and walked out of the bank empty-handed.

The offender is described as a white man, between 25 and 30 years old, between 5ft8in and 6ft tall and on two occasions had a trimmed black beard. He was wearing a baseball cap during each robbery and carried a large black holdall bag.

Detective Sergeant Karl Dalton said: “This is by no means a new way to rob a bank, but this man has now struck three times and escaped with a substantial amount of money.

“It is, of course, highly doubtful that he has anything in that bag that could explode, but the intimidation and fear that he creates has twice been enough to force the terrified cashiers to hand cash over to him.

“Fortunately the banks have provided some CCTV footage which we believe will help us to identify this individual and we need the public’s help to do so.

“Take a good look at the footage and if you know this man or believe you have any information which may allow us to identify him, contact police as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.