UPDATED: Suffolk shop staff tied up in early morning raid

Two shop staff were tied up by masked men claiming to be armed early this morning.

Three men wearing balaclavas entered a branch of the One Stop Stores in Ipswich Street, Claydon, at about 6am, and one said he had a knife and the two members of staff present were tied up. The men then stole a quantity of cash.

The suspects are described as follows:

Man one was white with a tanned complexion, around 5ft 8in tall, with a thin black moustache and very small tattoos on either sides of his eyes, which looked like either crosses or stars and were in faded blue ink. He was wearing a dark blue/grey zipped fleece, black balaclava, dark-coloured bottoms and wore a navy blue baseball cap with a large peak.

Man two was black, also around 5ft 8in tall and of average build, wearing a black balaclava. He was wearing a dark grey/blue fleece zipped jumper and navy jogging bottoms.

The third man was described as white and wearing a balaclava.

Detective Superintendent Andy Smith said: “Robberies of this nature are rare in Suffolk – especially with victims being tied-up – so this was a particularly distressing incident for the staff members involved.

“I am appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area prior to this incident to come forward. We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area of the shops in Ipswich Road between 5am and 6am in the days leading-up to the robbery.

“Any piece of information, however insignificant it may seem, could provide us with a vital clue in this investigation.”

Police are keen for anybody with any information about this robbery or the offenders, or who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, to contact Suffolk Police on 101 quoting reference 16364/15, or to ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.