Police hunt man who robbed bookmakers in Viewpark

Oct 20 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

DETECTIVES are hunting a robber who raided an Uddingston bookmakers.

The male criminal burst into the Coral bookies on Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark, at 11.45am on Thursday, October 13.

Staff cowered in fear when the man clambered onto the counter and demanded that they hand over money.

The shocked employees watched as the raider made off with a three-figure sum of cash. Nobody was hurt in the incident.

It is believed the man ran off along Old Edinburgh Road heading in the Bellshill direction. Bellshill Police were called to the scene but the robber had fled the area.

Chief Inspector Brian Connell, area commander at Bellshill Police Office said: We are currently investigating a robbery at Coral bookmakers and are looking for local people to think back to last Thursday morning around 11.45am, and in particular if you have seen anything at all which appeared suspicious in the area of the bookmakers in Old Edinburgh Road.

We are looking for any information regarding a male wearing dark clothing and any vehicles that may be involved and parked nearby.

Robberies can be violent and have a dramatic effect on the victims. We take these very seriously and will ensure we leave no stone unturned in identifying the person responsible.

Mr Connell added: Strathclyde Police is committed to keeping the members of its communities safe and this includes business premises which have been targeted in this way.

There is a lot of work underway to ensure businesses and their staff are given the appropriate information and training to stop the callous individuals from committing this type of crime.

There are CCTV cameras and other security measures employed at many premises and we will use these to ensure we detect anyone involved in criminality.

Anyone with any information is asked to please call Bellshill CID on 01698 202400 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 in confidence.