Shop raider threatens to start fire

A MAN escaped with cash from a newsagents’ shop within Warrington Hospital – after threatening to set the shop on fire.
He splashed what is believed to be petrol on the floor and forced a terrified assistant to hand over money from the till.
The robbery was at the Amigo Newsagents inside the hospital foyer at about 7.50pm on Friday (March 11)
Police said the offender entered the shop and handed a note to a cashier, demanding money from the till.
He then started to splash a bottle of what is believed to have been petrol onto the floor near the till. He demanded cash, which was handed over, and then ran off.
Detective Constable Catherine Jones said: “Although no one was injured, the offender gave the shop assistant the impression that he was going to set fire to the shop with her inside. She was understandably extremely shaken as a result of this robbery.
“I am keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the man come into or leave the hospital.”
The offender was aged between 30 and 50 years. He was wearing a black beanie hat and a yellow high visibility jacket.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0845 458 0000 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.