CCTV images released after armed robbery at Highcliffe Post Office (From Thisisdorset)
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CCTV images released after armed robbery at Highcliffe Post Office
7:00am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Latest By Alex Winter, Katie Clark and Jane Reader
CCTV image of the man police would like to speak to
AN armed raider burst into a post office and demanded cash in front of horrified customers.
Frightened staff at Highcliffe Post Office in Lymington Road handed over money before the gunman fled with an undisclosed sum of money.
Armed officers rushed to the normally quiet area at 9.34am to discover the man, whose face was covered with a scarf, had fled in the direction of Christchurch.
The post office was closed for the rest of the morning to allow officers to gather evidence.
Now police have appealed to members of the public for information in a bid to identify the gunman.
The offender is described as white, in his 40s, around 6ft tall and of medium build. He was wearing a black anorak, a black beanie hat with a grey stripe, grey rimmed glasses and a black scarf over his face.,
“A man entered the premises with a firearm, demanded money and left shortly afterward with a quantity of cash, heading toward Christchurch – nobody was injured” said a police spokesman.
County councillor Colin Jamieson said: “This is absolutely shocking.
“While we would all condemn these appalling criminal acts, I would like to reassure residents that the police will be doing everything they can to apprehend the perpetrator.
“We must remember that crime is at an all time low in the area but equally when even one incident happens, it does have an effect on people.”
‘It’s so quiet round here normally... ’
Lesley O’Neil, former head of Highcliffe Business Association and owner of Lesley’s Collectables in the village said: “It’s awful. The owners are so nice. We are all devastated for them.”
Cllr Myra Mawbey, who represents Highcliffe ward said: “I'm really shocked. We don’t have armed things going on in Highcliffe. It’s a sign of the times but crime is falling in the borough.”
Traders near the post office also spoke of their shock. Tina Britton, who works in Napoleon’s bar, said: “It’s so quiet round here normally – it’s scary to think this has happened.”
Bill Cotter, who owns the Crafty Wood Shop opposite the post office, said: “Police came round this morning to ask if we had any CCTV of it, but it wasn’t on unfortunately.
“I’ve heard he was wearing sunglasses on over a balaclava, so it could be difficult to track him down.”
Alan Smart, who manages the Oakhaven Hospice Trust charity shop, said: “It must have happened very quickly. I went out for a moment and when I came back the police were there.”
Dorothy Ramsay, left, who has lived in Highcliffe for 32 years, said: “Of course, it is pension day, so that might explain why he went in today. It’s very unpleasant. Things like this don’t tend to happen in Highcliffe.”
One passer-by, who didn’t want to be named, said he’d heard £800 was taken and police told traders nearby not to work alone in their shops.
Louise Buchanan, 21, left, who is visiting from Australia, said: “It’s quite a surprise to hear this has happened in a place like this. It’s very quiet here, so it’s a bit of a shock.”
The post office is run by a married couple who, when contacted by the Echo, declined to speak.
Witnesses and anyone with information have been urged to call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
Mobile phone tariffs may apply.
Comments(28)
Mike Oxbig
says...
3:16pm Tue 18 Dec 12
sofa_king_right wrote:When needs must......
so many these days
l'anglais
says...
3:58pm Tue 18 Dec 12
sofa_king_right wrote:Of course there was no thieving back in the good old days.
so many these days
wonderway
says...
4:04pm Tue 18 Dec 12
stupid woman, you do now, councilors face the real world crime rates a covered up by governments by reassessing criteria to ensure their policing cuts dont cause to much public anger lots of offenses are not even logged so face the facts crooks will rob PO banks corner shops for money they know they will only get couple of years if caught armed robbery should carry 10 years with no parole or sentencing reduction but will never happen so face the facts this type of crime will rise
EGHH
says...
4:27pm Tue 18 Dec 12
whataboutthat
says...
4:35pm Tue 18 Dec 12
portia6
says...
4:48pm Tue 18 Dec 12
recession so its not a surprise! We
live in a diverse society and the rich
seem to get richer and the poor worse
off!
GAHmusic
says...
5:29pm Tue 18 Dec 12
GAHmusic
says...
5:29pm Tue 18 Dec 12
Mcfly77
says...
5:42pm Tue 18 Dec 12
O'Reilly
says...
6:01pm Tue 18 Dec 12
djd
says...
6:41pm Tue 18 Dec 12
I have just watched South Today and seen a pathetic excuse for a senior police officer almost condone the two robberies in Brockenhurst and Lymington. He says the man is probably desperate and needs the money and it's alright because he hasn't offered any violence.
Goodness know what will happen if they are lucky enough to catch him, perhaps a whip round at the police station to tide him over Xmas.
If this is the attitude of the police towards criminals we should get back our taxes we pay towards their services. Incompetence isn't polite enough.
kazzy70
says...
6:53pm Tue 18 Dec 12
kazzy70
says...
7:10pm Tue 18 Dec 12
paul.p wrote:Im standing my ground to all the oaps and retired that are trying to push the young families out of highcliffe, as Im a local and not from London but i still dont know who that man is
I thought that you had to be retired to live in Highcliffe....
RivermeadMike
says...
7:43pm Tue 18 Dec 12
djd wrote:I watched Meridian Tonight, and guess what? There was no mention of the Highcliffe Post Office robbery!
I wonder if there is an link between this incident and the ones at Lymington nad Brockenhurst. Not that many miles between them, but covered by two different police forces..I wonder if they talk to each other.
I have just watched South Today and seen a pathetic excuse for a senior police officer almost condone the two robberies in Brockenhurst and Lymington. He says the man is probably desperate and needs the money and it's alright because he hasn't offered any violence.
Goodness know what will happen if they are lucky enough to catch him, perhaps a whip round at the police station to tide him over Xmas.
If this is the attitude of the police towards criminals we should get back our taxes we pay towards their services. Incompetence isn't polite enough.
Obviously if it had happened in Reading or Oxford it would have been the major story.
Sovietobserver
says...
7:57pm Tue 18 Dec 12
djd wrote:djd, The police officer quoted 'he hasn't offered any violence !!! and the kidnap victim's husband in Lymington received a head injury. The kidnap victim is now profusely criticizing the police response time to the incident - quote - she returned home after the ordeal, and despite both her and her husband having made previous 999 calls during the kidnap, the police still had not arrived at the house !!!
I wonder if there is an link between this incident and the ones at Lymington nad Brockenhurst. Not that many miles between them, but covered by two different police forces..I wonder if they talk to each other.
I have just watched South Today and seen a pathetic excuse for a senior police officer almost condone the two robberies in Brockenhurst and Lymington. He says the man is probably desperate and needs the money and it's alright because he hasn't offered any violence.
Goodness know what will happen if they are lucky enough to catch him, perhaps a whip round at the police station to tide him over Xmas.
If this is the attitude of the police towards criminals we should get back our taxes we pay towards their services. Incompetence isn't polite enough.
See the report in the Southampton Daily Echo ,which includes my posting about the police witness appeal , that explains the misleading information given out to the press, regarding a vital incident during the kidnap.
Wageslave
says...
8:19pm Tue 18 Dec 12
spooki
says...
10:55pm Tue 18 Dec 12
Tassie
says...
10:57pm Tue 18 Dec 12
Tassie
says...
10:58pm Tue 18 Dec 12
spooki wrote:Hear hear! Well said.
I don't care if he's desperate for money. Lots of us out there are short of cash but we don't all go about threatening people in their homes or workplaces. Need money? Sell something. Go without something else. Grow up and accept your situation. Are we meant to feel sorry for him? Take some responsibility and don't just take someone's else stuff/money! Good luck to the staff in the banks & post offices that have been robbed. It doesn't matter if he didn't use any violence, the threat is there and I would be really nervous going back to work if it happened to me.
Turtlebay
says...
6:25am Wed 19 Dec 12
paul.p wrote:Nah mate, I was born in Highcliffe!
I thought that you had to be retired to live in Highcliffe....
Lord Spring
says...
7:59am Wed 19 Dec 12
kazzy70 wrote:Rich retired people would not be queing collecting their pension from the P.O. they would have bank accounts to pay their share dividends into.
Ive lived in highcliffe for 42 years and has never know highcliffe post office get hit but I do feel that the going on in Lymington has something to do with this as highcliffe is a small post office but will have a fair bit of money in it as highcliffe is like lymington a well off area with lots of rich retired people
dobrojoe
says...
10:15am Wed 19 Dec 12
Dont drop litter
says...
11:12am Wed 19 Dec 12
Mike Oxbig wrote:There is never a justification for stealing.
sofa_king_right wrote:When needs must......
so many these days
Dont drop litter
says...
11:14am Wed 19 Dec 12
whataboutthat wrote:or maybe stupidity, or a drug problem. I am guessing drugs.
Risking an 8 - 10 stretch for a few hundred quid/low thousands is indicative of desperation.
Tom 'Boscombe' Jones
says...
11:24am Wed 19 Dec 12
AdamSFC
says...
2:20pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Wageslave wrote:I hear they also get Swedish back massages in prison, and goose down duvets and pillows, oh and apparently you get your own butler as well!! If you think it's so lovely why don't you commit a crime and get sent there?
Its nearly Christmas so this chap can't lose. He either gets a nice little windfall from his swag,or a nice warm comfey cell for Christmas and a professionally cooked Christmas dinner, plus choice of 5 different menus until he leaves.Visit a country with a rat infested dungeon for a prison and the criminals are not queueing to get in.
goldensnowfairy
says...
5:32pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Be interested to know what this new Police Commissioner bloke thinks...on £100k a year salary perhaps he could start his new role by sorting the crime on his patch. But there is crime and crime. Guns are terrifying. With no real deterrent things wont chenage. We need to get tough as a country.
sofa_king_right says...
12:54pm Tue 18 Dec 12