THE HERALD
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/62181.html

POLICE investigating a botched robbery in which a security officer was shot were last night preparing to examine CCTV film in an attempt to identify the gunmen.
The 48-year-old guard was shot at close range in the stomach after two men demanded money from him in what was described by detectives as a particularly horrendous and unprovoked attack.

The incident happened on Tuesday night soon after he and two colleagues, the crew of a Brinks van, arrived at the Bank of Scotland in King Street, Kilmarnock.
The raiders fled empty-handed, leaving the security officer lying seriously injured in the street. Last night, he was described as stable after undergoing surgery at Crosshouse Hospital.

Throughout the day, police questioned passers-by in the pedestrian precinct where the bank is situated, while forensic officers examined the bank frontage for fingerprints or other clues.
A silver BMW seen leaving the scene also figured in the inquiry. A similar car was found ablaze in a Tesco car park in Irvine a few hours later.

Detective Chief Inspector John Mitchell, who is heading the investigation, also appealed for information from motorists who may have been on the route used by the security van prior to the robbery. "While we don't know if the van was followed, it is important to look at that possibility," he said.
  
The van, dark blue and with the Brinks shield logo and letter B on the side, left its base in Govan, Glasgow, at 6.15pm on Tuesday and made calls at Newton Mearns, then travelled via the M77 and B769 to Stewarton and down the A735 to Kilmaurs, before arriving at Kilmarnock at 8.50pm.
Mr Mitchell said two of the three-man crew left the vehicle and went into the bank. A short time later, one of them came out and was approached by two men. "They demanded money from him and the third member of staff, who was in the van.
  
"There was an exchange of words between the gunman and the security man who was out in the street, who was then shot in the abdomen and fell to the ground."
The two men ran off down a lane to Sandbed Street. A short time later, the silver BMW was driven at speed from there into St Marnock Street, past police headquarters. 
"We don't have much of a description of the two men, other than that they were 'untidily dressed' and there is the suggestion one was wearing a mask," Mr Mitchell said.

Sue Cope, managing director of Brinks, said: "The company is providing full support to the victim's family and the crew involved. The company, and industry in general, continue to be alarmed at the escalation in violence to employees and will work with police to bring the perpetrators to justice."