AN ARMED robbery took place in Earley last night and police are appealing for witnesses.
Thieves stole mobile phones and a laptop, which took place during rush hour on one of the borough’s busiest stretches of roads.
It took place around 5.45pm on Tuesday, February 2, just before the shop was about to close. Thames Valley Police said that two men entered the Shepherds Hill branch of The Carphone Warehouse, one was carrying a hammer and the other man was carrying another weapon wrapped in a cloth. There were two members of staff in the store at the time. The staff members were told to lie down on the floor and one offender tried to restrain them but failed.
Offenders threatened to shoot the staff and demanded to be let into the back of the store. They took multiple mobile phones and a laptop and the phones belonging to the staff were also taken.
Thames Valley Police said that the robbers then made off on foot across the road and headed across the roundabout towards the pet shop and bathroom shop on the opposite side of the road – but they were last seen behind Johnsons Dry Cleaners which is just a few doors up from Carphone Warehouse on the same side of the road.
The offenders are described as wearing dark clothing.
Det Insp Nick Watts of Reading CID, is leading the investigation.
In a statement, he said: “This robbery took place between 5.45pm and 6.15pm next to a busy road as lots of people were heading home from work. This was obviously a deeply upsetting experience for the staff who were fortunately uninjured during the robbery.
“We would ask anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously near that time near that roundabout to call us. Or anyone who saw men getting into a car in that area to contact us as soon as possible via 101.”
A spokesperson for The Carphone Warehouse said that they couldn’t make a statement due to the ongoing police investigation.
If you have any information please contact Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101 quoting URN 1186 2/2.
If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
