SERVICE station staff have been left terrified by an early morning raid by masked robbers.
Two men wearing balaclavas burst into the Oakley Service Station, in West Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, just before 6am this morning. (Friday, November 8)One jumped over the counter while his accomplice demanded that the lone shop assistant, a woman in her 20s, hand over the safe key before they stole several thousand pounds.
They left the shop, on Staindrop Road, and made off on foot in the direction of the bypass towards West Auckland. One returned briefly to pick up a bag of money he had dropped on the way out. Forecourt manager, Julie Anderson, said: “The girl rang me straight away, she was hysterical.
“It looks like they’d been watching the place for a while before coming in and then were inside quite a long time.
“The shop assistant said there wasn’t a safe but he challenged her and said if she didn’t give him the key they’d come back. When they went she hid at the back of the shop scared.
“I’m scared and angry about it. “All our staff are frightened now because we don’t know who is watching.”Both suspects were wearing dark clothes, balaclavas and gloves.
Det Sgt Paul Faulkner said: "We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything in the vicinity of the service station early on Friday morning.
“These men fled the scene on foot and I am sure someone in the community of West Auckland will have seen them or know who they are."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.