Shop staff tied up by armed gang

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/6289232.stm

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Six shop workers have been tied up during an armed robbery on a DIY store in Greater Manchester.

Three masked men, armed with crowbars and a machete, bound the staff at Homebase in Stockport with cable ties before searching for cash.

Greater Manchester Police have released CCTV footage of the robbery, which happened as staff opened up.

Det Insp Denise Worth said the raid was a "terrifying ordeal" which has left the workers "extremely traumatised".

The men went into the Stockport Road East shop early on the morning of 26 June.

They left with a small amount of cash in a stolen red Audi A4, which was found in Bredbury later.

The robbers targeted the shop as staff opened up

Store manager Alex Rattigan said: "I cannot put into words how my staff felt that day.

"I find it truly horrifying to think about what they went through.

"In total, nine of them were involved and some of them were tied up for over an hour.

"The long ordeal has understandably taken its toll and they have all been offered trauma counselling as a result."

The robbers were white, aged 22 to 28, and were all wearing dark clothing and balaclavas covering their faces.

One of the men had brown eyes, one had blue eyes and one offender was referred to as "Sam".

Det Insp Worth added: "To arrive at work and be faced with three armed men is bad enough, but to then be tied up for such a long time must be truly horrendous."