Newspaper report

Lancashire Courier
HEINOUS HEIST SHOCKS CITY!
by Susie Roberts, Senior Reporter

Meticulously planned bank robbery

stuns locals as police appeal for more

‘solid leads’.

Yesterday afternoon, at approximately

2.40pm, an outrageous, opportunistic robbery

occurred at the branch of Norwest Bank, Main

Street in Manchester city centre. Swiftly and

The Norwest Bank, Main Street,
deliberately, four men (disguised with masks Manchester city centre was held to
ransom yesterday.
and hoodies) made an aggressive raid on the

bank and escaped with a variety of bank robbers were wearing camouflage, combat

notes bundled up in rucksacks. According to a trousers, navy hooded jackets, face masks

spokesperson for the bank, the thieves are attached to their hoods and black beanie hats.

believed to have fled with over £2.1 million in Although the security guard was taken to a

cash. local hospital, he was later discharged with no

serious, health threatening injuries. However,

Before attacking the security guard on duty
he is now receiving counselling for
(Brian Dosley, aged 37), the thieves were seen
post-traumatic stress.
entering the bank by the main entrance,

equipped with crowbars and pickaxes. One eyewitness, who was inside the bank at

On approaching the cashiers’ desks, the the time of the robbery, was Gemma Sondon.

thieves demanded that ‘enough dough to feed When questioned, she admitted that she didn’t

an army’ was stuffed into each of their realise how dangerous the situation was to

rucksacks. Officials have stated that the begin with and thought it was just a prank.

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 theft-related crime over the last year.

In response to this, Greater Manchester Police

have reportedly increased the number of

officers on patrol in the city centre, with the

hope that their presence will deter future

robberies.

Last night, a press conference was held to

A CCTV image caught the
robbers in action communicate the latest updates to concerned

members of the public. A briefing was held by

Gemma continued to explain what she had
Chief Inspector Molly Smyth. She explained
seen, “Initially, I thought it was just some
that the police were currently executing
young lads mucking about, being mischievous
forensic investigations of the crime scene and
for TikTok or something. Until they started
they had every intention of getting justice for
attacking the security guard, I didn’t fully
the bank and its employees. The Chief
realise what was happening. Everyone was
Inspector ended the press conference by urging
startled by the raid. I just froze. I was in utter
anyone with information or solid leads about
shock. My stomach was in knots, and I
the burglary to contact their local police
thought I was going to be sick with fear!”
station immediately.
Addressing the public on the scene, one police
A young man – believed to be in his late teens
officer stated, “We are seeing more and more
and from the local area – has been questioned
of these volatile, violent scenes, especially
in connection with the armed heist but has
since the cost of living has increased.
been released without charge. Police are
Times are tough and people are now taking
currently using every opportunity to check
risks, breaking the law and using violence as a
nearby security cameras for more evidence to
means to an end.” Recent statistics for the
help identify the culprits responsible for the
Manchester area show a 7.1% rise in
carnage at Norwest Bank yesterday.

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