Knife-wielding robber stole foreign cash

A man used a knife to threaten a female member of staff at the Co-op Travel shop on St Annes Road West at 11.45am on Saturday. He continued to make threats until staff handed over wads of foreign currency.

The knife-wielding robber then ran off with the Euros, dollars and sterling, which police say were worth “thousands of pounds”, following the raid.

A manhunt is now underway to catch the suspect, who is stall at large.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “He has gone in through the front door and approached a female member of staff.

“She has been threatened with a knife while the offender has asked for money.”

The victim then went to the part of the store where foreign currency was kept, at which point the man made threats towards another member of staff.

The police spokesman added: “He has demanded money again. Staff handed over the money in different currencies and he has made off.

“There were thousands of pounds in Euros, dollars and pounds as well.”

Police are now appealing for information about the incident, which took place at around 10.45am on Saturday.

The robber is described as a white male, who was wearing a black jacket, hat and blue jeans at the time of the robbery.

Police said witnesses described him as “medium or heavy build or possible wearing several layers of clothing”.

Nobody was hurt during the incident and no arrests have yet been made.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw someone matching the suspect’s description at around that time is urged to contact police.

Call police on 101 with information, quoting log number 507 of July 18.

Travel agent robbery is the latest in growing list of knife-point raids

The knife-point raid at the weekend is the latest in a string of similar incidents in recent months.

In December, two men robbed the William Hill bookmakers, also on St Annes Road West.

The pair brandished a knife and threatened staff before making off with around £200 in cash from the till.

In August, another nearby travel agent fell victim to robbery when a man stole around £2,500 in foreign currency.

He threatened a pregnant woman with a kitchen knife at Thompson travel agents, on Park Road.

In September, an 86-year-old man was robbed in his own home by a knife-wielding thug who stole cash and an electric bike.

The man, in his 20s, rang the doorbell before forcing his way into the house, on Warwick Road.