Staff tied up in shotgun raid

POLICE in Essex are hunting a pair of armed robbers who held up an amusement arcade and made off with a large quantity of coins.

POLICE in Essex are hunting a pair of armed robbers who held up an amusement arcade and made off with a large quantity of coins.

The raid happened at Kino Amusements, in Princes Esplanade, Walton, when two men armed with a sawn-off shotgun and pepper spray tied up and blindfolded staff for an hour while gathering up a four-figure sum of cash.

The attackers both wore balaclavas when they burst in at around 8.45pm last night but staff members, who managed to free themselves and raise the alarm, described the man armed with the shotgun as being around 6ft 2ins to 6ft 3ins tall, of broad build and aged in his late 20s. He had a pronounced forehead bone structure and possibly had blue eyes. He was wearing a black waist-length coat, white shirt, dark denim jeans, trainers and surgical gloves.

The second man was about 5ft 11in to 6ft tall, and possibly in his early 20s. He was wearing a black track suit top and muddy black jogging bottoms. He was also wearing heavy-duty gloves.

DS Jules Cole of Essex Police said: “This was a frightening attack on three members of staff who were threatened with a shotgun and pepper spray. They were unharmed, but were left tied up and blindfolded.

“We want to hear from anyone who saw the men hanging around the arcade before going inside at about 8.45pm, or who saw them leave about an hour later. We also want to hear about anyone who has been trying to change a very large number of coins of all denominations.”

Anyone who can help should contact Clacton CID on 0300 333 4444.