Detectives were today hunting an armed gang who escaped with a substantial haul from a security van in a late-night raid.
Scene of the raid - the Nationwide in Leigh Broadway Picture: ANNA LUKALA
The robbery in Leigh Broadway was the second similar raid in south Essex in just eleven days.
The gang struck as the security van delivered money to the Nationwide Building Society at 10.42pm to refill cash machines.
Once inside the building society, a guard was threatened with a handgun before being locked inside the building.
One witness told police three masked men wearing black balaclavas banged on the front of the Securicor van and screamed at the guard inside. He was also locked into the vehicle.
The three men were seen running up Alexandra Road next to the building society and getting into a silver Honda Accord, which was abandoned in Leigh Cliff Road.
The gang were last seen running down an alleyway which connects that road with High Cliff Drive.
From there detectives believe they got into another car and left the scene.
The Honda Accord was stolen from Shoreham-By-Sea, Sussex, suggesting the gang may not be local.
Published Wednesday August 4, 2004
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