Post Office raiders stage ‘teen drama’ with fake hostage

The incident happened at Beeston Hill sub-post office on Beeston Road, Leeds, when a boy entered and picked a card from the display before standing in the queue to pay.

Shortly afterwards a man came in who then took hold of the boy, who police say was apparently acting as a stooge, and held a knife to his throat while demanding cash from the sub-postmistress.

Fearing the boy would be harmed and not realising he may be a stooge, she placed an amount of cash into a carrier bag and the suspects left on foot along with the boy.

The boy, who is described as being aged between 11 and 14, hid his face from CCTV cameras as he left. He had a tanned complexion and was possibly Asian in origin and was wearing a grey hooded top with red lining in the hood and red stripes down the arm.

The adult suspect is described as a white male, 5ft 10in who was wearing a black duffel coat with grey hooded top underneath that was pulled up over his head. His face was hidden by a scarf.

Police urged witnesses to the incident, which happened on Monday at 2.10pm, to call Holbeck CID on 101.