Police Officers to Shadow Security Vans
Following the recent robbery of a security van at Barclays Bank in Bedworth, crews of reactive police officers including armed officers, will be shadowing security vans for the foreseeable future.
Throughout the whole of the county, police officers driving in either liveried police cars or those travelling incognito, will be tailing security vans to disrupt criminal activity, deter further robberies and to help ensure the safety of the public.
Historically this type of robbery has shown an increase from October to January with robberies occurring after the security van has arrived at supermarkets, automatic cash transfer machines, banks and post offices as they collect or deliver cash.
From today detectives from the Investigations Unit at headquarters in Warwickshire have tasked officers to follow these vans and record as much information as possible about any one acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the vans.
Intelligence received from the officers will be recorded centrally as an enhanced profile of the offenders emerges. Detectives are also sharing information with neighbouring forces who have seen an increase in this type of crime.
In addition to these measures, Warwickshire Police are also asking members of the public to help build on intelligence and to stop criminals committing these offences by calling 999 immediately they see any suspicious activity occurring. Posters reminding the public for the need to call 999, are being displayed near to post offices, banks and in other highly visible public areas.
DCI Ken Lawrence in charge of the Investigations unit in Warwickshire is keen to enlist the public's help: "The recent robbery at Barclays is a repeat of several robberies which happened in Warwickshire at the end of 2003 and similar to other robberies in the West Midlands and Staffordshire. These offenders are often brazen in their approach to the crime, either following the security van or laying in wait for the van to arrive. Obviously we do not want any member of the public to tackle these criminals and to put themselves in danger, and would only ask for an immediate call on 999 to alert us to any suspicious activity."
He also appealed to the public for information to help identify the offenders : "This is a highly organised group of criminals whose methods are carefully calculated and sometimes violent. Anyone who has information to identify any of the offenders is asked to help prevent further crime, help avoid injury to the security crews and contact the Investigations Unit at Police headquarters on 01926 415000 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
During the robbery at Barclays Bank in Bedworth on October 28 2004, four men wearing hoods over their faces and dark clothes, approached a Securicor Van delivering cash to the bank. Two of the men threatened the guard with handguns and demanded cash from the vehicle. The offenders grabbed an unknown amount of cash from the van and escaped in a silver Audi S3 car parked in Church Walk alongside HSBC bank. The car sped off toward Newtown Road where it collided head on with a lorry before carrying on toward Coventry. The Audi sustained serious front end damage in the collision. The lorry driver sustained slight injuries.
Detectives continue to appeal for any witnesses who saw the damaged silver Audi - registered KF52 SKX - either before the incident or speeding away toward Coventry. The Audi is believed to have been involved in an armed robbery at Cheylesmore, Coventry on October 26. Detectives are liasing with colleagues in Coventry as part of the inquiry into both incidents.
Other robberies occured during the period October 2003 to January 2004. They were:
- Jan 13 2004 - Post Office, Manor Court, Nuneaton
- Dec 16 2003 - Parmar Store, Mill Crescent, Kingsbury
- Dec 16 2003 - Barn Hill Service cash point, M40 in South Warwickshire
- Dec 11 2003 - Post Office, Newtown Rd., Bedworth
- Dec 1 2003 - MAKRO, Gallagher Business Park, Bedworth
- Nov 24 2003 - Nationwide Church St., Nuneaton
- Nov 20 2003 - Sainsbury's Petrol Station, Shires Retail Park, Leamington
- Oct 20 2003 - Tesco's Petrol Station, Leicester Rd., Rugby
Anyone with information about any of these robberies is asked to call the Investigations Unit at police headquarters in Warwickshire on 01926 415000 or Crimestoppers anonymously.
