TWO raiders wearing terrifying scream masks are on the run today after holding up a store and making off with hundreds of pounds in cash.

Tom Potter

TWO raiders wearing terrifying scream masks are on the run today after holding up a store and making off with hundreds of pounds in cash.

Police are today hunting the masked robbers who held up the Spar shop in Freehold Road, Ipswich and escaped with around £400 from the till.

The manager of the shop, who did not want to be named, told how he believed the robbers had lurked around the shop shortly before it closed waiting until no-one was in there to get their chance to strike.

Two teenage shop assistants who were in the shop at the time were left extremely shaken by their ordeal which happened between 8.15pm and 8.25pm on Wednesday.

After demanding money from shop staff, one of the offenders jumped over the counter and helped himself to the cash.

No-one was injured during the raid.

The manager said: “It shook up the boys who were working at the time.

“It's not much fun when two youngsters have the life scared out of them. We can replace the money that was taken but we can't replace them.

“I had a chance to see the CCTV footage and even in slow motion it looked like it happened very quickly.”

The first robber was male and described as 6ft 2ins tall, of broad build, and wearing a black bomber style jacket and light hooded top.

The second was described as 5ft 10ins, of slight build, and wearing a black bomber style jacket and a blue hoodie.

The gender of the second robber is yet to be determined as both wore 'Scream style' masks while carrying out the robbery, but the shop manager suspected it wasn't the first time the thieves had visited the building.

He said: “They had probably been in here before and knew we had more money in the till than usual because it was a lottery night.

“They were in here half-an-hour before we closed and had obviously waited until no customers were in the shop.

“It doesn't happen every five minutes but I have an awful feeling we may be targeted again.”

- Police are appealing for witnesses to this incident and anyone with information is asked to call DC Jo Williams at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.