£3k reward offered after shopkeeper attacked in £77,000 robbery (From Bucks Free Press)

£3k reward offered after shopkeeper attacked in £77,000 Wycombe robbery

10:07am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Neil Phillips

£3k reward offered after shopkeeper attacked in £77,000 robbery

A £3,000 reward has been offered after a knife-wielding robber attacked a shopkeeper and stole around £77, 000 from his premises.

Independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is calling for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

On Saturday, January 26, between 1pm and 1.45pm a man wielding a large knife entered the Premier Stores Convenience Store on Booker Lane and threatened, attacked and tied up the shopkeeper.

Crimestoppers says he then escaped with approximately £77k from the premises, which has an ATM machine and a Post Office. Police said the shopkeeper suffered eye and facial injuries during the incident.

The man is described as black or Asian, 6ft tall and in his mid-twenties, wearing dark clothing and a dark blue scarf around his face.

Police previously said they believed another man, possibly an accomplice, waited outside the store during the robbery.

Phil Gomm, Chair of Thames Valley Crimestoppers, said: “This was a heinous and violent attack carried out in broad daylight and the ordeal has left the shopkeeper and members of the community in shock.

“The Crimestoppers charity is offering a reward of up to £3,000 to anyone who can supply us with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this offence.

“Someone out there has information that can help bring this criminal to justice. Perhaps you witnessed the event or saw suspicious activity in the area?

“Crimestoppers wants to receive any information no matter how insignificant it may seem.

“We do not ask for your name and no call is traced or recorded. You won’t have to give a statement, speak to the police or go to court – we only want to know what you know, not who you are. In the 25 years that Crimestoppers has been running we have never broken our anonymity promise.”

Detective Constable Chris Mavers of High Wycombe CID said: “Thames Valley Police is working closely with the community to investigate this serious crime. However, there may be some people who feel unable to speak directly to us for whatever reason. These people we urge to contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously.”

If you have any information on this incident please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information can also be given anonymously through the Crimestoppers website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Only information given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 that leads to a conviction is eligible for the reward.

The reward cannot be claimed for information given online or directly to the police.