Armed robbery linked to two others (From Bucks Free Press)
Send your news, photos and videos by texting bucksfreepress to 80360 or email
Armed robbery linked to two others
10:53am Friday 7th November 2003 in News
The moment a gunman pointed his firearm at a four-year-old girl, who is cowering to the left, out of sight of the camera
THE armed raider who aimed a gun at a child's head during a violent robbery is thought to have struck again - leaving a terrified 11-year-old boy behind as a witness.
Police said the man, pictured right pointing his pistol at a four-year-old girl during last Thursday's raid on the One Stop store in Wooburn Green, or a member of his gang, could have been behind another armed robbery in Great Kingshill on Wednesday.
A man wearing a Saddam Hussein mask was seen entering Spar, in Great Missenden Road at about 7.30pm. Three men, two of who were wearing woolly hats and scarfs around their face, snatched hundreds of pounds in cash.
The two men were armed with baseball bats and the man wearing the Saddam Hussein mask was carrying a knife. There were several customers, including an 11-year-old boy, in the shop at the time.
A small hatchback, was used as a getaway vehicle. One of the men is 5ft 11ins, of medium build with light ginger hair. Another man may have a Welsh accent. Both raids are being linked to another violent robbery at Threshers in Chequers Parade, Prestwood, on Monday. Again, a man wearing a Saddam Hussein mask threatened a member of staff with a gun and a knife before escaping with the contents of a cash till. The incident happened at about 9.50pm.
CCTV footage taken from the raid at the One Stop store in Wooburn Green on October 30 shows the moment one of the robbers pointed the pistol at the four-year-old.
Police said the girl was still deeply shocked by her ordeal in which she witnessed the gang attacking a member of staff and threatening shoppers.
In CCTV images the youngster is out of the camera's view, cowering in the corner. Since the raid she has suffered frequent nose bleeds Ð a sign of extreme stress. The girl and her mother were in the shop and the gunman pointed the weapon at the terrified child and ordered her to "look away".
Det Insp Philip Chandler said: "These criminals must be caught before someone is seriously hurt. I believe that they may be locally based."
A £5,000 reward has been offered. Police believe the getaway car was a dark green Ford Focus or new style Fiesta.
Anyone with information should call 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
