Town robbery (From Penarth Times)

Town robbery

POLICE are hunting a man who carried out a robbery on the Abbey National building society in Penarth yesterday morning.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "The raid took place at around 11am on Wednesday morning, at the Windsor Road branch of the Abbey National building society in Penarth town centre.

"A man jumped over the counter, pushed a female member of staff to the floor and grabbed a sum of money.

"He then ran out of the building, turned right and carried on running down Windsor Terrace in the direction of the seafront."

The suspect is described as in his early 20s, black or of mixed race, and around 5ft 7in in height.

He was wearing a hooded top and possibly a baseball cap.

Police also said he was wearing his shirt hanging out over his trousers.

An eyewitness who spoke to the Penarth Times said: "He came running out of the building so fast I knew straightaway that something was wrong.

"He was holding his pocket as if to keep something from falling out.

"I couldn"t see his face because he was wearing a blue-hooded top.

"When I heard later that a robbery had taken place I couldn"t believe it - but I knew that he was the man."

A local trader told the Penarth Times: "I suppose it"s an easy target really because there are no protective barriers fitted in there.

"Most banks and building societies seem to have them nowadays."

South Wales Police have made an appeal to the public for information.

The police spokesman added: "We would like to speak to anyone who was in the building society at the time or anyone in the town centre who may have seen the suspect making his escape."

Anyone with information should call the police on 029 2022 2111 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.