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Armed robber threatens York shop staff with gun in daylight raid

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Costcutter on Heworth Road. Photograph © Google Street View

A robber threatened supermarket staff with what is believed to be a handgun before making off with cash.

The incident happened at Costcutter on Heworth Road at around 12.45pm on Wednesday (July 19).

A man, believed to be in his 20s, entered the shop and passed the cashier a note demanding money from the till.

He then showed the cashier what is described as a black handgun in the waistband of his trousers. The cashier handed him the contents of the till and he left the store.

Shop staff are said to be shaken by the events.

Police have issued this description of the robber.

Have you seen him?

The suspect is…

skinny
around 5ft 10ins tall
with short blonde or ginger hair

He was wearing

a khaki-coloured hoody with zip front

Detectives working round the clock

Dales Lane, with Harrison Street on the left. Photograph © Google Street View
Officers launched an extensive investigation and are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the area and conducting door-to-door enquiries.

Detective Inspector Jackie Smart said:

Our detectives are working around the clock on this investigation but members of the public may have vital information that could help us.

This incident happened in a relatively busy residential area at a time when people will have been out and about.

So if you saw anything suspicious, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we’d like to hear from you.

Detectives believe members of the public may have seen two men shouting nearby before running down Dales Lane.

One continued down Dales Lane while the other turned right and ran into Harrison Street. They want to speak to anyone who witnessed this.

One is described as

  • 5ft 11ins tall
  • of medium build
  • with short dark hair
  • wearing tight blue jeans
  • a greyish hoodie
  • and blue and white trainers.

The other was smaller –

  • 5ft 7ins or 5ft 8ins tall
  • of medium build
  • with short light brown hair
  • wearing dark blue jogging bottoms
  • a green cardigan with a zip
  • and a light-coloured T-shirt underneath.

Investigators have yet to establish whether they were involved in the incident.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation should contact York police. Details below.

north-yorkshire-police-logo-25How to help the police

Call York Serious Crime Team on 01609 643279
Or call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
Email York Serious Crime Team here
Quote reference number 12180130457