Police continuing investigation into robbery

Aug 22 2012 by Shona Mitchell, East Kilbride News

POLICE in East Kilbride have issued a new appeal for information following the assault and robbery of a security guard on August 10.

Masked robbers left a guard requiring hospital treatment after attacking him during their bid to steal cash as he filled an ATM.

The robbers targeted two security guards, aged 56 and 45, as they were filling a cash machine at South Lanarkshire College in the town.

The pair made off at speed in a white estate car, believed to be a Ford Mondeo, with a stolen money box. A police chase through the town followed.

The thieves then discarded the money box which they had managed to open next to a postbox in Calderglen Road. As a result of them forcing open the box, the security dye pack was activated which will have left the notes covered in a dark dye.

At the same time the following week, on Friday, August 17, officers conducted a ‘stop and interview’ operation in St Leonards.

Officers have been in High Common Road stopping and speaking to motorists in an effort to establish further details about the incident.

Detective Inspector Laura McLuckie, who is leading the investigation, said: “Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their co-operation on this. By speaking to people we may perhaps jog their memory as they may, without realising it, have seen something which could be of interest to us.

“The information gathered from this operation will be assessed by officers working on the inquiry. However, I am still appealing to anyone who may have any knowledge or information about this crime to please get in touch with us.”

Officers continue to review CCTV images of the surrounding area in an effort to find out further details about the suspects and the incident.

Police say they are currently unable to confirm if a car found burnt-out near the National Museum of Rural Life in Kittochside in the early hours of Wednesday morning is related to the incident.

The area was cordoned off by officers while forensics staff carried out investigations last week.

One nearby resident told the News: “It all kicked off shortly after midnight and the whole family got up to see what was happening. I thought it might be a stolen car on fire but from where we are we couldn't see properly.

“There was a succession of loud bangs and my wife thought it might be fireworks as there were bright flashes. One of the bangs sounded like a gunshot and we feared the worst at that stage. One of my girls was pretty frightened by the whole thing.

“It's not unusual to see burnt-out cars on the back roads but this was happening just off Stewartfield Way on a short walkway to the road between the farming museum and Kittochside.

“The next day the police had sealed off the area and officers were standing guard, which led to speculation that the car had been used in the robbery at South Lanarkshire College, but that was just the rumour going round.”

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact East Kilbride Police office on 01355 564000. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give information anonymously.