Stun gun raiders take just £1,000 in Telford robbery

Detectives were this afternoon investigating possible links between the armed robbery and raids on other stores in the area. A member of staff at the Co-operative, in Bagley Drive, Wellington, was attacked with a stun gun during the terrifying armed raid yesterday.

Two workers at the supermarket were tied up by the masked robbers who police say escaped with about £1,000.

The same supermarket was targeted by raiders just four months ago when three female workers, including one who was pregnant, were confronted by a gang of masked robbers.

The gang demanded cash but fled on foot empty handed on August 28.

Chris Ammonds, spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "We will automatically be looking at the possibility of links between Monday's robbery and not only the raid in August but also all other recent raids on Co-operative supermarkets in the area.

"Detectives will also be studying CCTV footage from the supermarket and the surrounding area in an effort to identify the culprits."

Police are also appealing for witnesses to come forward and are keen for information about a vehicle they believe could have been at the scene.

Mr Ammonds said: "A small black vehicle may have sped away from the scene at 6.13am down Bagley Drive."

The store was closed yesterday as police carried out their inquiries but it was open as normal today, from 6.30am until 10pm.

The last reported Co-operative supermarket robbery in Shropshire happened on October 31 at a branch in Bridgnorth.

It was the second time the branch had been targeted by robbers as two masked men had burst into the supermarket on July 25 and threatened staff into handing over thousands of pounds in cash before fleeing on foot.

Hooded robbers threatened staff before jumping over the counter and grabbing a handful of cash in a raid on a Co-op in Mount Pleasant, Shrewsbury, on August 12.