Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Just walked into an armed robbery...

46 replies

marthamoo · 04/05/2006 12:25

You know, like you do on a Thursday morning. Had just come out of a shoe shop with Troutpout (yes, I had bought shoes..sshhhh) and found ourselves face to face with a crowbar wielding guy in a black balaclava who had just smashed in the door of the jeweller's, about two shops down. Accomplice was still inside, getaway car was there, engine running and doors open. I just stood there looking at him - luckily Troutpout had the presence of mind to shove me back in the shoe shop and close the door behind us. When I told the girl what was happening she thought I was joking.

We waited in the shoe shop til we saw people heading in the direction of the jeweller's again - then came out: they had raced off in the car along a pedestrianised shopping street, and presumably slalomed round the bollards at the end.

Police took 10 minutes to arrive...the guy in the jeweller's was talking into a phone and looking extremely shaky.

What is the world coming to? 11am on a sunny Thursday morning...

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 04/05/2006 13:50

oo - there's not much chance the robbers will find out any info on Moo if she decided to be a witness. And she'll only have to go to court if they catch them - which is doubtful.

Marina · 04/05/2006 13:50

Well if I was in the shop and terrorised at the time I'd hope witnesses would come forward, OO. I didn't enjoy being a witness in our case at all as the thugs were very local to us, but meeting their victim after the case (convictions secured) reassured me that I and the other witnesses, including a teenage girl and the bus driver, did the right thing.

Original poster
marthamoo · 04/05/2006 13:57

I haven't spoken to the police - mainly because I couldn't tell you a thing - other than it was a red car. I didn't even register he had a crowbar - I just saw the balaclava. There were literally scores of people around - all the people from the surrounding shops were out, and there is a cafe directly opposite which was packed with people sitting in the window. Plus I'm pretty sure there are security cameras along there. If I had anything useful to tell them I would come forward though.

Actually, it struck me how useless I would be as a witness - I was just frozen, couldn't tell you the make of the car, let alone anything of the number plate. Couldn't even tell you if the man in the balaclava was black or white.

OP posts:
Marina · 04/05/2006 13:59

I see your point, I felt I wasn't much better, but my evidence corroborated that of "better" witnesses and placed the f*ckers at the scene conclusively.

Original poster
marthamoo · 04/05/2006 14:05

That must have been very traumatic, Marina - especially when you were pregnant.

OP posts:
Marina · 04/05/2006 14:10

It was, Moo. They beat the man so badly he was in danger of losing the sight in one eye, all for asking them to stop swearing at the bus driver, apparently. We just saw them getting off, making monkey noises at their victim, and then chasing another parent at the nursery, who had apparently intervened too. He was too upset to give evidence and tbh, if ds hadn't been leaving two weeks later, I might have thought the same.
The local police were so pleased to have finally got the ringleader, who terrorised the estate he lived on, and where the nursery was, for five years, before they convicted him for racially aggravated ABH and public affray.
I did score a laugh in court for confessing that I thought one of their weapons (a snooker cue) was a length of curtain track Blush

Tinker · 04/05/2006 14:12

Knew you'd have got your DM mules when read this.

Original poster
marthamoo · 04/05/2006 14:13

Good on you, Marina - you were very brave. So horrible to be caught up in something like that Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
marthamoo · 04/05/2006 14:14

(Yes, and now dh knows I've got them, damn)

OP posts:
Tinker · 04/05/2006 14:14

Oh, do be a witness if it'll help. My poor old mum was mugged on her doorstep (in a very leafy suburb) so they certainly knew where she lived. But she, and a neighbour who saw them drive away both went to court as witnesses.

Marina · 04/05/2006 14:17

I didn't do anything at the time because 1) our bus came along and I was mustard keen to get ds and his shrill questioning away from the scene and 2) I had no idea at that time how serious what they had done was
The yellow boards mentioning serious assault a few days later made me ring, tbh.
For me the really brave witnesses were the victim and the young girl, whose parents were not happy about her giving evidence but gave in to her insistence she did so

Marina · 04/05/2006 14:18

Bummer about the mules though Moo Grin

Tinker · 04/05/2006 14:18

lol at shrill questioning Marina.

Marina · 04/05/2006 14:20

"Who are those shouty boys mummy?" "Why are they chasing X's daddy?" all at 120Db, in about 85 degrees. I was 37 weeks PG and not small.

Troutpout · 04/05/2006 14:21

Ay Moo...I am still pmsl at the other woman in the shop. ' Erm Hello! so like have you got the other shoe to this or what?!...nothing gets in
the way of me and shoes!!'

Original poster
marthamoo · 05/05/2006 14:50

Well, how good a witness would I make? It was in the newspaper today - the car was black, not red, apparently.

And the guy in the shop (who I didn't see) was brandishing a Samurai sword Shock They think it may be linked with the Wilmslow robbery that GDG mentioned. I hope they catch them soon.

OP posts:
GDG · 05/05/2006 14:53

moo - apparently a hotel in Hale village was held at gunpoint yesterday too! Hey, i thought it were posh round ere!

Original poster
marthamoo · 05/05/2006 14:54

Dh told me it was when he persuaded me to move here - I think he was just fed up of the long commute to work Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
marthamoo · 05/05/2006 14:54

Hale is really posh, though!

OP posts:
GDG · 05/05/2006 15:01

It is. Can you imagine my embarrassment this week while dropping off ds2 at nursery in clapped out fiesta with a dent in teh boot that means it won't shut and bounces up and down, right alongside all the X5s, Grand Voyagers, Lexus and mercs!

Actually, they aren't all posh cars but I did feel a bit self conscious!! Sad eh?!

MerlinsBeard · 05/05/2006 15:06

samuri sword???Shock wtf??!!! DO NOT send em my way moo (hazel Grove!)

I was in an armed robbery once when i worked at B & Q (years ago when i was 15/16), v scary all locked in managers office. Hope your ok today.

btw, i would be just as good a witness!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page