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Positive response over Post Office robbery reconstruction

Updated on 27th January 2012

A number of enquiries relating to an armed robbery at a Post Office, which last night featured on a national TV programme, will be fast-tracked after a positive response from the public.

Detectives were pleased at the number of calls received following a reconstruction of the robbery, which happened at Shireoaks Post Office in Worksop, on Wednesday 2 November 2011, that aired on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme.

Sarah and David Draisey owned the village Post Office and its adjoining bungalow.

Postmistress Sarah had closed the shop around 5pm and followed her daily routine of walking her dog, leaving her husband David, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, home alone.

Two masked men forced their way into the conservatory at the back of the bungalow and struck David to the face with the barrel of a gun, before he was bundled into the living room and bound at his hands and feet.

His wife arrived home shortly afterwards and was threatened with a firearm and forced to open the safe.

DI Ash Wilson, who is leading the investigation said: “This was obviously a planned attack on an elderly couple. The offenders stole a quantity of cash and unregistered tax discs as well as £400 of the couple’s own money.

"They fled the scene in the couple’s black Jeep Cherokee which was found abandoned in a layby on the A57 northbound carriageway.

“I am extremely pleased with the response from those who called in to the programme last night; two different people gave very similar information and we will be fast-tracking these enquiries in a bid to arrest those involved.

“I would urge anyone who knows who did this to contact us to ensure we find these people before they hurt anyone else.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
 
Issued Thursday 26 January 2012 

A violent armed robbery at a Post Office near Worksop will feature on BBC's Crimewatch show.  

A reconstruction of the robbery, which happened at Shireoaks Post Office on Wednesday 2 November 2011, will be aired at 9pm on Thursday 26 January.

Sarah and David Draisey have owned the village Post Office and its adjoining bungalow in Shireoaks Common for the past 10 years.

Post Mistress Sarah, 56, had closed the shop at around 5pm and followed her daily routine of walking her pet dog.

Husband David, 66, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, was home alone when two masked men forced their way into the conservatory at the back of their bungalow.

Both were wearing balaclavas and dark clothing. One carried what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun while the other was armed with a claw hammer. 

He was struck to the face with the barrel of the gun, bundled into the living room and bound at his hands and feet.

When Mrs Draisey arrived back a short time later, she was threatened with the gun and forced to open the safe. 

DI Ash Wilson, who will be interviewed live on the show, said: “It was a terrifying moment for Mrs Draisey when she returned home to find two armed, masked men in her home.

“Her husband was extremely distressed and had been beaten and tied up, which obviously would have been a harrowing sight for her.”

The robbers stole a quantity of cash and unregistered tax discs from the safe, as well as £400 of the couple’s own cash from inside the bungalow.

Mrs Draisey was then also bound at the hands and feet before the men made off in the couple’s black Jeep Cherokee, which was found abandoned a short distance away in a lay by on the A57 northbound carriageway.

Mr Draisey managed to free himself and raise the alarm.

DI Wilson added: “This was a planned attack. They knew when Mrs Draisey would be out of the house and where the safe was – they may have been watching them for some time. 

“This was an attack on an elderly couple which was unnecessarily cruel and violent and we need to find them before they hurt someone else.

“Think back – it was the Wednesday before the clocks went back. Did you see anything suspicious in this lay-by around this time? Did you see someone watching the shop in the days before the incident?

“Any detail, regardless of how small, could be the key to finding the cowards who did this.”

Anyone with information about the robbery should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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