A Colchester councillor has called for more police to patrol the streets following an armed robbery in the town this week.
St Georges Stores, in Canterbury Road, was raided by two men shortly after 6pm on Monday evening.
Police say they entered the shop with what is believed to have been a knife and a firearm before demanding money from staff.
Theresa Higgins, councillor for New Town and Christ Church, said incidents like this are not normal in the area and that more police are needed to help prevent similar situations in the future.
She said: “This doesn’t normally happen. We have had the odd incident in New Town but they are isolated and not regular occurrences.
“I’m not sure what the council can do, but we need more police. We used to have a PCSO and he just patrolled the streets and knew where the hotspots were.
“He would know where individuals were who might cause trouble and could pass the intelligence on.
“Now it’s all done in cars and when people ring the incident number they are put through to someone in Chelmsford or Basildon or wherever, so residents have not got confidence because the police will say ‘where’s that?’ That’s the most frustrating thing.
“We need more police on the ground.”
Jay Kanesalingam has been manager of St Georges Stores for almost five years and said this is the first time something like this has happened in his shop.
He said: “Two men came in with a gun and what looked like a knife. I was not there but my friend was working. They didn’t take any money.”
He said his friend was doing alright after the incident, and that the men had stayed in the shop for about 40 seconds before running away.
Nothing was taken and no one was injured.
Police are now appealing for information about what happened and are asking people to contact DI Jim White at Colchester CID.
They have also released CCTV images of men they would like to speak to in connection with the robbery.
To speak to DI White, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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