Masked gang armed with chisels steal cash and cigarettes from Wolverhampton shop
An armed gang escaped with a haul of cash and cigarettes from a Wolverhampton store last night - but suspects were arrested just minutes later.
Three masked men armed with chisels burst into the One Stop Store in Wood End Road, Wednesfield at 9.40pm and forced staff into a back room. Nobody was injured during the raid.
They filled up a bag with cigarettes and cash boxes before fleeing in a dark coloured Ford Mondeo estate that had been reported stolen the previous day.
Minutes later the vehicle was spotted by police in the Pendeford area of the city and a chase started. The Mondeo headed for the grounds of New Cross Hospital where it was abandoned at 9.55pm and people ran from it in different directions as police tried to seal off the area. A bag holding cigarettes and cash boxes was discoved in the dumped vehicle and three men were detained soon afterwards.
A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery after being found inside the car.
A 26-year-old man, who was chased onto a nearby multi-storey car park, was also arrested on suspicion of robbery, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.
A third man, aged 22 and found in the nearby area, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.
Police are believed to be looking for two other people who may have been travelling in the Mondeo when it was abandoned.
The three arrested men were held on suspicion of either robbery or conspiracy to rob and are currently helping police with their inquiries into the incident. One is further suspected of theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.
