Armed raiders in guard attack

From the Redditch Advertiser, first published Tuesday 26th Jun 2007.

A SECURITY guard was viciously attacked and injured by masked, armed raiders while delivering cash to an ATM in Oversley Green.

Security guards, arriving in a blue Group 4 Securicor van, had just filled up the cash machine at Oversley Mill service station when they were approached by three men, all dressed in black and wearing woollen balaclavas.

Brandishing a 2ft long crowbar and holding a knife to one of the guard's head, the offenders demanded he open the safe but as he searched for the code on his mobile phone it dropped to the floor and broke.

One of the men then slashed the guard with the knife, causing superficial wounds to his head, face and neck, before shouting to the injured man's colleague, who was in the van, to get the money.

The van windows were smashed with a crowbar but before any cash could be taken, the men made off in a black Honda Civic empty handed, driving towards Redditch.

The attack happened at about 10.15am on Wednesday, June 20.

A spokesman for G4S Cash Services (UK) said: "G4S Cash Services (UK) is committed to maintaining the safety of its staff and the general public.

"We continue to work closely with trade unions, the police, the Government and relevant local authorities to develop initiatives that will curtail the growing number of violent attacks taking place on the cash-in-transit industry."

David Dickinson, chief executive of the British Security Industry Association, said: "Cash-in-transit robbery is on the increase and this attack is yet another reminder of the seriousness of this type of crime.

"It's a human crime perpetrated against men and women going about their every day working lives performing an essential public service."

A vehicle matching the description of the offender's car was seen going into the Arden Forest Industrial Estate at speed shortly before the alarm was raised.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Stratford CID on 01926 415000.

Archive Home