DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at an Alton bank on Wednesday which left one man injured and bystanders in shock. The incident, which took place in broad daylight at the height of a busy pre-Christmas shopping morning, saw what looked like a hooded gunman leap out of a car, dash into the HSBC bank, and leave clasping a cash box full of money. The car then sped off the wrong way down the High Street, mounting the curb and scattering pedestrians as it tore into Market Street to make a getaway. Medstead mum Tracy Donnegan said she was walking along the street with daughter Mary, 4, when the car sped past them. "People were running to get out of the way. They had no regard for pedestrians." A very shocked mother and daughter from Whitehill said they had seen the entire incident. The mother had almost been flattened when the robber jumped from the rear seat of the car and dashed into the bank brandishing a gun. She had shouted at him, frightening her daughter who feared for her mother's safety. She, like many others, immediately alerted the police. According to Alton CID, the incident happened at 11-50 am when a silver Vauxhall Zafira (people carrier) pulled up outside HSBC bank in the High Street. A man wearing a balaclava got out of the vehicle and entered the foyer of the bank. He approached a security guard who was making a delivery, threatening him with an imitation firearm. The guard was then assaulted by the robber, who grabbed the guard's secure cash box containing a substantial amount of cash. He then left the building and got into the Zafira which was waiting outside the bank. The vehicle then drove the wrong way down the High Street, turning into Market Street. It was later found abandoned in Westbrook Road and has since been recovered by police. The guard suffered a minor head injury during the attack and was treated by paramedics at the scene. Detective Inspector Mark Bissell said: "This robbery occurred during a busy morning when a large number of people would have been in the area. "Did you see a silver Vauxhall Zafira in the area on Wednesday morning? Did you see the car being driven at speed in the town centre just before midday? Anyone who can help us with this investigation should contact the police immediately." Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information should contact Alton CID on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
