Photo: Police recover two vehicles from Station Road, Hesketh Bank
Appeal for witnesses following attempted robbery in Hesketh Bank
We are appealing for information following an attempted robbery in Hesketh Bank this morning (March 22nd, 2016).
The incident took place at the HSBC bank on Station Road shortly after 9am.
A group of men drove up to the bank in a silver or grey-coloured BMW 5-Series and two of them alighted the vehicle and forced their way into the bank, wearing balaclavas.
One of the men was carrying a large rock and the other a crowbar-type weapon.
Inside the premises they threatened staff and demanded they open the ATM machine. However, the staff were unable to do this and the men fled empty-handed.
Meanwhile a blue BMW 3-Series estate, registration HY63 ETK, was waiting nearby.
Outside the bank, a third man set the blue BMW alight. He then joined the other two men in the silver or grey-coloured BMW and all three of them made their escape.
They then set this vehicle alight, on Fermor Road, and made good their escape in an unknown third vehicle.
Officers have recovered CCTV footage from inside the bank and from the area within the vicinity of the bank.
Enquiries are also ongoing to establish the identities of the BMWs, which are believed at this time to have been stolen, and where they were kept before the offence.
We are now keen to hear from anybody with information that can help with our enquiries.
Specifically, we are appealing to any motorists, HGV drivers, cyclists or motorcyclists with on-board CCTV cameras or head-cams who were at or near the scene between 8.45am and 9.15am, and who may have captured the men preparing to carry out the crime.
Any witnesses who can help officers piece together the movements of the two BMWs before the commission of the offence are also sought, as is the driver of a white van seen on CCTV outside the bank at the time of the offence watching the incident unfold.
Detective Inspector Marc Nasser, of Skelmersdale Police, said: “This incident must have been incredibly frightening for the staff who were in the bank at the time.
“However, we would like to reassure the community that incidents like this are rare and an investigation has been launched. We are determined to find those responsible.
“We would now appeal to anybody who can help with our enquiries to get in touch.
“If anyone has any information about what happened or was in the vicinity at the time and witnessed any suspicious activity, I would urge them to get in touch with us as soon as possible.
“We would also like to thank the public for the number of calls we have already received.”
Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log number 0247 of March 22nd, 2016.
Photo: Car alight, HSBC, Hesketh Bank : Credit / Joanne May
“Officers attended and found the offenders had made good their escape after setting ablaze and then abandoning their vehicles.
“No staff have been injured.
“Enquiries are now ongoing.”
OTSnews will have more information later today.
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