Cash centre raided again

Robbers have smashed their way into a Staffordshire cash processing centre which lost £2 million in a similar heist three months ago.Police believe copycat robbers are responsible after ramraiders with a skip lorry crashed into the NatWest cash processing centre in Tamworth last night.

Staff at the centre on Amington Industrial Estate, still coming to terms with the last robbery, are said to be devastated.

Police have revealed that a stolen skip lorry was used by robbers to smash their way through gates to the centre, at 11.15pm.

It reversed into the side of the building, where staff were working, making a hole in the wall.

They got inside, stole bags of cash and escaped through a hole in the fence, which accomplices had created, before making off in dark coloured cars.

Staffordshire Police spokesman Peter Bate said: "At this stage there's no indication that the offenders were armed. It is also unclear at this stage how much money was stolen.

"Fortunately, no-one was injured during the incident."

There is thought to have been less cash stolen than in the October 18 robbery.

A member of staff at the centre who was there at the time, was said to be devastated and shocked by the incident.

A friend, who did not wish to be named, said staff could not believe it had happened again. "They had been told by management that security would be upped and were told to forget about it as one of those things that happens," he said. "But obviously they have not had time to forget about it."

Some time before the incident the offenders removed the skip container from the lorry.

The skip lorry, stolen from the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, has the registration T486 EWR.

Witnesses should contact Staffordshire Police on 01785 234953 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

By Victoria Hoe