A squad of detectives have been interviewing passers-by at a busy supermarket, trying to piece together the events surrounding an armed robbery there.
Police community support officer Kim Claridge with cash bags like the ones which were stolen Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
More than ten officers were at Sainsbury's, Stadium Way, Rayleigh Weir, on Friday, questioning potential witnesses who may have been at the store the week before when a masked and armed gang stole an undisclosed amount of cash from a security van.
CID officers believe the robbers, who carried guns while threatening the security guard and stealing the cash, would have planned the attack for weeks.
They also believe the culprits may have carried out a practise run of the raid.
Det Con Alex Gartshore of Canvey CID said: "They must have planned the route. They could have come down here and perhaps even had a trial run."
Mr Gartshore said police had returned to the supermarket on Friday because it was a week after the incident, the car park was full and some of the patrons may also have been there the previous week to help with information not already gathered.
The three armed robbers raided the security van at 9.37am on July 23, shortly after it arrived at the store.
The gang fled in a number of getaway cars with a sum of money.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Rayleigh police on 01268 775533 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Published Tuesday August 3, 2004
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