http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/content_objectid=13683192_method=full_siteid=50003_headline=-Hooded-pair-escape-with---xA3-20-000-name_page.html

Hooded pair escape with £20,000

Dec 2 2003
By Ben Griffin

Robbers escaped with £20,000 after attacking a security guard with a crowbar at a Coventry petrol station.



The two hooded raiders hit the man twice across the head as he was making a cash delivery to the BP Connect garage in Willenhall Lane, Binley, just after noon yesterday.

The man, who works for Securitas, was uninjured thanks to his helmet.

The thieves escaped with a cash box containing about £30,000.

Det Insp Matt Markham, of Chace Avenue Police, said: "They hit him across the helmet twice with the crowbar but fortunately the helmet saved him from injury."

Police say the robbers drove off in a silver-coloured Audi car, possibly an X-registered A4 model, towards Rowley Road in the direction of Baginton.

Det Insp Markham said the raiders failed to get all the money out of the cash box and threw it into the road, leaving about £10,000 which was recovered by police.

He said a security device containing a red dye exploded in the cash box, which would have splattered the men and cash.

The detective added: "They got away with about £20,000 of the £30,000 that was in there, but it is very likely it will be red-stained."

He asked anyone who saw a silver-coloured Audi between noon and 1pm, or saw anybody covered in red dye, to contact police on 0845 113 5000.