Armed robbery at Coatdyke store

Feb 24 2010 by Gordon Robertson, Airdrie & Coatbridge

Corner Shop

MASKED thugs held three women at knifepoint in a general store and demanded cash during a vicious armed robbery.

Members of staff and a customer were left terrified during the raid on The Corner Shop in Coatdyke.

Two crazed robbers threatened the women before fleeing with just a few hundred pounds of takings.

They were armed with a knife and what could have been a gun when they burst into the store on the corner of Quarry Street and Agnew Street.

It was the third time in eight years the store has been robbed.

One of the women in the shop at the time, who asked for her name to be withheld, said: “It was terrifying. One of them had a knife and the other had what I thought was a gun. It was wrapped in a sock.

“One had his face completely covered and you could just see his eyes and mouth.

“When they came in they said things like, ‘give us the f***ing money’.

“They were waving the weapons around. Everyone was really shaken up by it.”

The robbers were spotted walking towards the shop wearing balaclavas.

They are believed to have left The Corner Shop and headed down Quarry Street before cutting through houses towards Coatbridge Indoor Bowling Centre.

It is thought the men also ran down Muiryhall Street at some stage as they fled the scene.

It appears they were on foot, leading to speculation that they live in the area.

Both were said to have “local” accents and gave a chilling threat as they left, saying they would be back.

Although the members of staff and customer were “very badly shaken” by the incident, they were physically unharmed.

Coatbridge police appealed for information on the robbery which took place last Wednesday at around 7.15pm.

Both suspects were wearing dark clothing with hoods which were pulled up and their faces were covered.

They are both described as being approximately 5ft 10in and are of a slim build. One of the suspects was wearing a pair of brown ‘rigger’ style boots.

Detective Inspector Bob Frew, from Coatbridge CID, said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the Quarry Street area of Coatbridge around the time of the robbery.

“Anyone who has any information about these two suspects to contact us on 01236 502060. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”