SHOPPERS TO HAND BACK HUNDREDS OP POUNDS AFTER ROBBER THROWS

[Daanyeer]

Shoppers told to hand back hundreds of pounds after bank robber throws £1,600 haul into the air

By Daily Mail Reporter
18th August 2010



Shoppers have been asked to hand back hundreds of pounds tossed into the air by a bank robber, seconds after he strolled out of the branch.

After telling frightened staff he had a gun and threatening to shoot them, the robber calmly walked out of Barclays Bank with £1,600 in his hand.
But instead of making a quick getaway he strolled 50 yards along the street before hurling his haul into their air, sitting down and crossing his legs, as the notes fluttered to the ground.

Seeing it was raining money, delighted shoppers in Winchester, Hampshire, scooped up the notes and many hurried away.
Police said only £300 had been handed back to the bank or to police and have urged others who picked up notes to 'do the decent thing'.
However, Detective Inspector Andy Symes, of Hampshire Police admitted he was 'not optimistic' that much more will be returned.
He said: 'I'm hopeful some members of the public will do the decent thing but in all honesty I can't see much more as a result of this appeal.'

Describing the act as 'bizarre' Det. Insp. Symes added: 'A man entered the bank and threatened staff into giving him approximately £1,600 in cash.
'He claimed he was armed, but a subsequent search after arrest proved he had no weapon on him.'
Police say they still have no idea what prompted the man to throw away the haul.
Det Insp Symes added: 'The man left the bank, and a short time later threw the money into the street for reasons we have yet to establish.
'We would ask any members of the public who have found money in Jewry Street - or surrounding streets - to please hand the money into their nearest police station.
'This money is evidence in our investigation.
'We would like to thank the members of the public who have already come forward and handed in money they have found to us.
'This was understandably upsetting for the people in the bank at the time, but this kind of incident is thankfully very rare, and in this case a man was arrested quickly and nobody was harmed.'
Honest shopper Cai Shorman, 21, said: 'Something like this just doesn't happen in Winchester, it's quite a sleepy town.
'Knowing where it came from I would have handed the money back or maybe reported it to the police.'

Police today said one man had been arrested in connection with the raid.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0wxibrutm