Police confirm £6,000 stolen in daylight robbery

The victims were making a delivery to the Premier Express, The Boulevard, when the raid happened yesterday (Wednesday January 22) at 3.50pm.

Jayesh Limbachia, owner of the shop, said: “It was surprising, we are in the main town and this just happens.

“We got a lot of deliveries and they might stop delivering to us if it’s dangerous.”

The 22-year-old victim, from London, said he was climbing the steps into the passenger side of the lorry when he was attacked.

He added: “I think it was a bottle because of the wound on my head.

“They pulled my jacket and threw me out on to the road. After they took the money they ran away.”

Police are looking for a mystery woman who warned the victims they were ‘being watched’ moment before the attack.

Just before the robbery the woman, described as white, aged about 35 and wearing an ash coloured coat, was outside a store called Sussex Food and Wine and spoke to one of the delivery drivers, warning him that he was ‘being watched’.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “At 3.50pm on Wednesday 22 January two occupants of a cash and carry delivery lorry were in an alleyway at the rear of Premier Express in The Boulevard Crawley, where they were about to deliver soft drinks, when two men attacked them, punching one of the occupants, and taking a bag from the cab containing an estimated £6000 cash, proceeds of earlier deliveries elsewhere. They ran off towards The Broadway.”

No weapons were seen and the victims did not require hospital treatment.

Detective Sergeant Glenn Willcocks said; “The town centre was very busy at the time and we hope people, especially this woman, will have seen what happened and have valuable information.

“If you can help please call us on 101 or email [email protected] serial 856 of 22/1. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”