MASKED armed robbers who stormed into a Durham newsagents fled the shop with hundreds of pounds.
Two men burst into the McColl’s newsagents in Newton Hall on May 5 at around 9.45pm.
They threatened two women members of staff and left with a substantial amount of cash before being driven from the scene in Alnwick Road by a third person.
Police are now working to identify the suspects and are particularly interested in the distinctive face masks they were wearing.
The women who were working at the time were left shaken but unhurt after the robbery and police have released images of the people they wish to trace.
Both suspects were wearing blue and white lumberjack-style tops, dark trousers and hid their faces with the masks. They were armed with a “bladed instrument”.
The masks are now seen as crucial to the hunt for the suspects.
DC Dave Wilson, who is investigating the robbery, said today: “We need to establish where you can buy a mask like this and want to speak to anyone who has sold any recently.
“It’s also possible that the masks were discarded shortly after the robbery, so if anyone finds one we’d like them to come forward.”
Yesterday afternoon the scene in the shopping centre where the robbery was carried out was a picture of suburban normality. Children were making their way home from school and mothers were pushing toddlers in buggies.
Shops in the precinct include a florist, a bakers, a bookies and a cafe.
One shopworker, who asked not to be named, said: “Although the robbery took place after we had gone home it has left everybody shocked. The thought that these men could have been hanging around here keeping watch on the premises is quite scary.”
Another added: “This is a very quiet area. Nothing like this has ever happened before to the best of my knowledge.”
Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Alnwick Road area either before or after the robbery is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0345 606 0365 and ask for Durham City CID or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
