Axe wielding raiders rob town supermarket

Staff at a Doncaster supermarket have spoken out about the terrifying moment axe-wielding robbers demanded cash during a late-night raid.
Two men armed with a axe stole cash from Co-op Supermarket on High Street, Bawtry on 21.01.2015.Two men armed with a axe stole cash from Co-op Supermarket on High Street, Bawtry on 21.01.2015.
Two men armed with a axe stole cash from Co-op Supermarket on High Street, Bawtry on 21.01.2015.

Two hooded men entered the Co-operative store in Bawtry at 10pm on Wednesday threatening employees before stealing the contents of the till.

Customer team member Debbie Elliott, aged 54, from Bawtry and team leader Michael Bishop, 26, of Harworth, were working the late shift at the time and have spoken exclusively to The Doncaster Star about the attack.

Debbie, who has worked at the store for over five years, said: “We were both putting stock out and two guys were at the till, I didn’t see them come in.

Two men armed with a axe stole cash from Co-op Supermarket on High Street, Bawtry on 21.01.2015.Two men armed with a axe stole cash from Co-op Supermarket on High Street, Bawtry on 21.01.2015.
Two men armed with a axe stole cash from Co-op Supermarket on High Street, Bawtry on 21.01.2015.

“They had a breakfast cereal bar, I scanned it and then they demanded I open the till and put all the money in a bag.

“Then they produced an axe, about a foot long, it was really rusty and he swung it, that’s when I called Michael. I just didn’t know what to do, I was in shock.

“I was scared stiff, I was shaking.
“The frightening thing is that they know what we look like but we don’t know what they look like.”

Michael, who moved to the Bawtry branch from the Harworth store just six weeks ago, added: “They must have sneaked in when we were out of the way.

“I just wanted to give them the money and get them out.

“They didn’t take anything else, nothing from the other till or cigarettes or anything.”

Debbie added: “We’ve had shoplifters before but nothing like this. I’ve refused to work lates again.”

Police have released two CCTV images of the men and would urge anyone with information to come forward.

The men are described as white, around 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build. The first man pictured was wearing a blue puffa jacket with hood, jeans and trainers. The second man pictured was wearing a black hooded coat.

n If you witnessed the incident, have seen anyone acting in a suspicious manner during that time, or recognise the men in the CCTV images, please contact police on 101, quoting incident number 1149 of 21 January. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.