Raiders armed with crowbars hit post office

The Lees Road post office hit by the raiders

POLICE are hunting three men who robbed Clarksfield Post Office armed with crowbars and left a shop worker traumatised.

The men broke into the Lees Road post office after confronting a member of staff as she opened the shop yesterday morning around 9.15am They dragged her to the floor and threatened her with crowbars, demanding she open the safe. Then they locked her in the back room. Unable to get into the safe, they stole cash and ran off.

Another shop worker went into the store shortly after the raid and found the woman locked up.

She said: “The first I knew was when a man came into our shop and asked whether the post office was open, as the door was open but there was no-one inside.

“I went in with him and everything seemed fine - but when I looked behind the counter there was a lot of debris on the floor.

“I heard a voice from a room at the back, climbed over the debris and opened the door, where I found the staff member, who was very shaken but thankfully not hurt.”

The post office remained closed for the rest of the day and police have launched an appeal for information

Two of the men are Asians in their early 20s, 5ft 6in to 5ft 7in tall, small or slim build with dark brown eyes. Both were wearing dark clothing and had covered faces. They spoke with local accents.

Det Cons Colette Wilkinson of Oldham division said: “Thankfully, no-one was physically injured but a member of staff is understandably traumatised.

“If you saw these men, or men fitting their description hanging around the area, then please come forward. You could have vital information.”

Call police on 0161-856 9063 or independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.