Robber pointed gun in post office worker's face in raid

A post officer worker calmly defied a robber as he pointed a gun at her in a terrifying raid.

The armed robber burst into the West End Post Office In Costessey and demanded money from the till.

West End Post Office, Costessey (Image: Peter Walsh, Archant Norfolk)

Police are continuing to investigate the incident at the post office on West End, which happened about 2.45pm on Tuesday (January 26).

A man entered the store with what is described as a firearm and demanded staff hand over money from the till. The staff member refused and the suspect left empty-handed and ran off towards Town House Road. Firearms officers were deployed to scene.

Norfolk Police are also investigating a second incident at Victoria Stores in Church Plain, Mattishall, which happened at around 3.10pm yesterday.

In this incident two men entered the store, one armed with what is described as a firearm. Both demanded money and the store worker refused, the pair left and grabbed property on their way out.

Susan Potter, 58, who has worked at the Costessey post office for more than 20 years, said: “I was serving a customer and when I looked up I saw a lad standing pointing a gun at me.

“He just said ‘empty your till, give me your money’."

But the brave assistant refused to hand over any cash, despite his repeated demands.

She said: “He just kept saying ‘give me the money, give me the money’. I just kept very calm and kept saying no.”.

The worker said she could see that the firearm being pointed at her was a plastic gun which “looked like a gun my child used to play with”.

After failing to persuade staff to open the till he turned his attentions to another customer in the store.

The assistant, who is known as Sue, said: “He asked a lady for her purse but I just said 'don’t give it to him'.

“I think he then realised he wasn’t getting anywhere.”

It is understood the suspect was later arrested after leaving the store empty handed.

On returning to work today she said: “If I didn’t come come back today I wouldn’t have...I forced myself to come back.”

Following the attempted robbery, which happened at about 2.40pm on Tuesday, January 26 Lucky Karavadra, the sub postmaster, came into the store from the back office after being alerted to the drama.

He said: “I went to the shop and he pointed the gun at me. I could see he was asking for money.

“He just kept saying 'give me the money, give me the money'.”

He said despite having the weapon pointed at him, he went back into the office to call police.

Mr Karavadra, who has been at the post office for nine years, said he had never experienced anything like it.

He said: “I can’t explain what happened. It was a panic day.”

The suspect fled after getting no money from the till.

A woman in her 40s and a man in his 20s have been arrested in connection with both incidents at Costessey and Mattishall.

Both are being questioned at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre and remain in custody.

Enquiries are ongoing to find a second man involved in the incident at Mattishall.

DI Alix Wright said: "We are still investigating the circumstances and any links between the two incidents. We would ask for anyone with information to get in contact. While staff were threatened in the incidents, fortunately no one was injured.”

Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the incidents, may have doorbell footage or saw a silver Citroen C3 in suspicious circumstances, being driven erratically or has dashcam footage of the vehicle to contact PC Charlotte Holmes at Norwich CID on 101, quoting crime reference 36/5304/21 (Costessey incident) and 36/5329/21 (Mattishall incident).

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.