Staff foil attempted robbery at betting shop

CCTV images of the Betfred robbery

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An attempted robbery ended differently than intended when the male robber was hit on the knuckles with his own weapon by one of the shop staff.

The man threatened a female betting shop worker with an axe, only for her to grab the weapon from him to strike him on the hand.

The incident took place at Betfred on Albert Royds Street, Rochdale shortly after 7.00pm on Tuesday 13 May.

The offender entered the empty shop dressed in black with his face concealed. He then approached the shop counter and threw an empty carrier bag under the counter window before demanding money from the staff.

When they refused, the man produced an axe and held it under the counter window.

One of the staff members grabbed the axe from him and hit the man on the hand with the blunt end of the axe head.

The offender fled without stealing anything but staff activated a security device which locked him inside the building. He proceeded to kick the door until it gave way, smashing the glass. He made off on foot along Samson Street.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Enquiries are still ongoing and we are still looking for the offender.”

Anyone with information can contact Rochdale East Police on 0161 856 4557 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.