Express & Star

Masked pair in 19th raid on convenience stores

Masked raiders stormed into a South Staffordshire supermarket and made off with cash from the till in the latest in a string of terrifying robberies.

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It takes the total number of break-ins and armed robberies at convenience stores in the region to 19 since July.

The Co-op store, in Brewood Road, Coven, was targeted by two men on Sunday evening, police said today.

The robbery came just days after four stores in Finchfield, Coseley, Great Wyrley and Burntwood were raided. The latest raid saw the two offenders, who were not armed, demand money from staff before leaving with a quantity of cash.

There were "several" members of staff in the shop at the time of the robbery, at 9.45pm, but no customers.

Both of the men had their faces covered. One wore a light-coloured, hooded camouflage jacket and the other a navy hooded Nike jacket.

Detectives were today looking through CCTV footage and scouring the scene for clues about the raiders. Harry Pavlou, 46, from neighbouring store Coven Fish Bar, said: "You do get worried. You just have to hope it doesn't happen to you."

Staffordshire Police spokesman Peter Bate confirmed they were investigating links with a string of similar raids at small supermarkets across the region.

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