Appeal to trace car dealer raiders

The Yorkshire Post revealed yesterday that the robbers got more than they bargained when the quick-thinking car dealer managed to take his chance and lock the robbers inside the showroom. He was able to make his getaway while they were detained – but they were able to later flee.

Police said yesterday they are keen to trace two men seen hanging around the showroom last Wednesday and they are investigating whether they are linked to the raid.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “The car dealer believes that he saw two men of a similar description on Wednesday hanging around at a similar time.”

The robbers, one armed with a sawn-off shotgun, the other with a crowbar or spanner, entered Shak’s Specialist Cars, Birkby Hall Road, Birkby, at 7pm on Friday and demanded cash. When they were told there was no cash they stole two mobile phones.

The owner then ran from the showroom leaving the robbers locked in. The robbers went to the rear workshop and fired the shotgun once to break the padlock on the door before escaping and running off towards Storth Place. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Both men wore black balaclavas and were wearing grey Adidas hoodies with three white stripes on the arms and dark tracksuit bottoms. The man with the gun was believed to be white, of an athletic or slim build, about 5ft 9in and spoke with a Yorkshire accent. The other man was believed to be black, well built or muscular, and about 6ft.

Police are now appealing for anyone who saw two people of similar descriptions hanging around the car dealers on Wednesday last week between 7pm and possibly 8.30pm. Anyone who has information is asked to contact Huddersfield CID via 101.