Postmistress’s ordeal as hammer-wielding robbers burst into shop

The postmistress had just cashed up and only the coin dispenser remained behind the protective glass, when the two men came in to the shop on Main Road, Bilton, near Hull, on Monday, armed with a sledgehammer. She sounded the panic button and the men fled, abandoning their getaway vehicle, a blue Mazda MX5, which was found minutes later with its engine running by police.

The robbery at the store is the second in the East Riding in a month.

Three people have been arrested following a raid in Hornsea and police have said the two robberies are not linked. Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the Mazda or suspicious people in the area in the run up to the raid.

Detective Inspector Emma Heatley said: “The offenders did not leave with much cash; however the ordeal has left the postmistress terrified.

“We’ve established the men travelled to the Post Office in a blue coloured Mazda MX5, left it outside for only a few minutes whilst the offence took place, they then made off from the scene in the same car.

“As soon as the 999 call was made to the police, officers flooded the area to try and locate the vehicle or offenders. Within 30 minutes of the call coming into the police, we had located the car in Bilton, with its engine still running, but the offenders had fled.”

Anyone with information can contact Humberside Police are on 101.