Safe and watches stolen in pub robbery

Two men used a fire escape to get into The Highfield, on Southport Road in Croston, as two staff members were cashing up at around 11.20pm on Friday, February 5.

One of the men approached the cash office and told staff to open a safe, insinuating that he had a weapon.

But it could not be opened due to a time delay and he left the office.

The other man went into another room and stole a safe and three watches, worth around £650 in total.

The men were chased from the pub across a car park, where they fled in a waiting Rover 75 VRM - registration number V821 GDX - which was later recovered by police in Burscough.

Lancashire Constabulary are now investigating the robbery and are appealing for information.

Det Con Dawn Croucher, of Skelmersdale Police, said: “This was a scary ordeal for two people who were simply trying to cash up at the end of a day at work.

“The two offenders failed to gain access to the pub’s takings but have made off with valuables.

“They have clearly acted with no thought for anyone but themselves.

“We are now appealing to anybody with information about this incident to come forward.”

The men both wore dark clothing with face coverings.

The man who entered the cash office was described as white, around 5ft 11ins tall, of slim build and with dark, bushy eyebrows. He was wearing a waterproof-style jacket with red trim around the bottom and had a Liverpudlian accent.

Anyone with information about the robbery is ask to contact police on 101, quoting log number 1571 of February 5.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.