POLICE are hunting masked raiders who terrorised off-licence staff in an armed robbery in Lowton.
Three men dressed in black burst into High Spirits on Bradwell Road, just before closing time and threatened them with violence.
The gang plundered a quantity of cigarettes before jumping into a black BMW car which drove off at speed towards Churc
h Lane.
Detectives today appealed for information about the robbery which took place shortly before 10pm on Tuesday (August 26).
There were two members of staff in the store but no customers at the time of the raid.
Police say weapons were used to menace the employees but are not disclosing what they are for evidential reasons other than to say they were not firearms.
The victims were left badly shaken but unhurt. The value of the tobacco haul has yet to be estimated.
Detective Sergeant Clare Devlin of Wigan CID said: "This was a cowardly attack on defenceless shop assistants which caused great distress.
"We would like to speak to anyone who saw suspicious behaviour outside the store or in the Bradwell Road area in the run-up to Tuesday evening's raid or perhaps the car making its getaway afterwards.
''Perhaps someone saw the vehicle being abandoned some time later and the intruders unmasked."
Descriptions of the assailants is vague other than that the men were clad in black and wearing masks. CCTV footage is being studied for further clues.
Anyone with information is asked to ring either Wigan CID on (0161) 856 5307 or the freephone Crimestoppers number on (0800) 555111.
The full article contains 268 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
