TWO masked robbers stormed into a Ringwood convenience store early yesterday morning and made off with cash.

Staff at the Co-Op store on Parsonage Barn Lane, were left “shocked and shaken” by the incident – the second robbery in the town in as many months after Lloyds bank was targeted in February.

Police sealed off the Co-Op following the latest raid, which happened at around 7.25am, shortly after the shop opened.

The manager of the store said she and a male colleague were behind the tills when two masked people came in.

“One of them was definitely a man and he demanded money but didn’t say much more.
“They wanted the keys to the safe but I told them I didn’t have them.
“They got behind the tills and smashed one of them.”

The robbers made off with a quantity of cash and fled the scene in a car.

No weapons were seen or used in the raid. Police are now searching CCTV for clues.

The store was closed while police carried out their enquiries and re-opened at lunchtime.
Speaking about the incident, the Co-Op manager added: “I am quite shaken by it. It is the first time

I have come face-to-face with people like that. I am just thankful that no one was hurt and there were no customers in the shop at the time.”

Ringwood town and district councillor Michael Thierry said: “I am worried that Ringwood might start to get the reputation as the hold-up town of the New Forest.

“The Co-Op is very close to the A31 so those responsible wouldn’t have had to travel far before making a getaway.”
He said the latest robbery sends out a strong message to shops and businesses to be on their guard.“

Ringwood is not a completely free zone when it comes to crime and there is the possibility that they can be targeted so shops and businesses need to be aware and not become complacent.”

Ringwood’s Lloyds TSB bank was targeted by robbers just last month.

One man snatched a cash cassette from a security guard as he delivered cash to the bank on the High Street at around 9am on Friday February 1.

He fled the scene on a moped which was waiting nearby before the pair switched to a car.

It is understood the offenders escaped with £25,000 cash.
Detectives from Lyndhurst CID are still hunting the people responsible for the robbery.n

Anyone with information about either robbery should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
n paula.roberts@
bournemouthecho.co.uk