Horror moment armed robbers burst into travel agent and force staff to the floor

09 January 2024 , 17:23

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Horror moment armed robbers burst into travel agent and force staff to the floor

Police have released CCTV footage showing the terrifying moment a group of violent robbers attacked members of staff in a string of robberies. The thieves, who were jailed for 54 years, are seen striking at shops, arcades and a travel agent amidst a crime spree across the West Midlands between November 2022 and last June.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the thieves emerge with hammers, knives and an axe as they storm businesses and threaten staff members during working hours. The group were known to use violence against workers and even hold them hostage before demanding money and taking off with thousands of pounds.

Five firms in Birmingham, West Bromwich, and Wednesbury fell victim to the thugs before they were eventually caught by police eight months later on July 19 last year. Aaron Day, 36, Liam Bell, 28, Jordell Duquesney, 26, and Richard Gray, 42, all previously admitted conspiracy to rob. Day, of Rowley Regis, Duquesney, of Halesowen, and Bell, of West Bromwich, were each jailed for 14 years at Birmingham Crown Court today (Tue). Gray, from Birmingham city centre, was jailed for 12 years and nine months.

One of the gang members was seen holding an axe (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

The court heard how the gang first struck at around 10.20am on November 20, 2022, at Shipley's arcade on West Bromwich High Street. Three masked men with hammers and knives stormed in, threatening customers and staff and demanding cash from the safes and cash machines. One member of staff was grabbed by the throat while another had what he thought was a knife pressed into his back. The gang managed to flee with thousands of pounds.

They struck again on December 2 that year at Buzz Bingo in Erdington, Birmingham. Three men entered with hammers and knives, threatened staff and customers, and rounded them up into one area demanding they open the safe. When staff were unable to do so, the manager was attacked and the trio fled in a stolen car with money from a cash machine.

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On December 20 that year, staff at Cashino in Birmingham city centre also fell victim to three armed robbers who held them hostage inside for an hour. They waited for a safe's time lock to expire before fleeing with cash in the same stolen car.

In a statement to police after the Cashino robbery, one victim said: "I wake up in the night seeing the male that grabbed me. I've only been out the house on my own three times since the incident and each time was a nightmare, I became really panicky each time I saw someone with a hood up. This has completely taken away my confidence."

Some staff members were even held hostage in the attacks (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

The gang also stormed a Co-op Travel in Wednesbury on April 22 last year, stealing thousands of points and escaping the scene in a stolen Ford Focus. They then targeted a Cash Converters in Kingstanding, Birmingham, armed with knives and an axe and stole takings on June 9. Detectives pieced together their movements through witness evidence, CCTV, as well as the movements of mobile phones and cars.

Day and Duquesney were arrested at Day's home. At the time, Duquesney was sat on a large black coat, with a balaclava and gloves stuffed into the sleeve. Day was sat on a bucket hat containing a balaclava and a pair of gloves. In the living room and hidden behind a radiator were sets of number plates with double-sided tape on them.

Detective Constable John Marsh, from West Midlands Police's Major Crime Proactive Unit, said: "This was an appalling series of robberies, with violence used and threatened against people going about their business. The CCTV shows how weapons were brandished and people were held hostage and marched around and as the gang stole from businesses around the region.

"It's had a lasting impact on these victims, who were left terrified but thankfully not seriously injured. This was a major investigation incorporating a whole host of techniques, which has resulted in these dangerous men being behind bars today."

Adam Dutton