Whyteleafe bookmaker hit for third time
A bookmaker in Whyteleafe has been hit by thieves for the third time in three months.
At around 8.50pm last Thursday evening a hoody-sporting robber forced open the locked door of Pridmore Bookmakers and demanded money from an employee.
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Hit: Money was stolen from Pridmore Bookmakers on Thursday evening
The employee handed over money and the robber walked out of the shop on Godstone Road, turning left as he exited the bookmakers.
No customers were in the shop at the time and the employee was unhurt in the ordeal.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kerry Akehurst, said: "Obviously it is very concerning to us this business has been targeted for a third time and we are looking at the similarities between the robberies and will be viewing CCTV footage of this latest incident."
The thief is described as a male of muscular build, around 6ft tall, in his late 20s or early 30s and speaking with a south London accent.
He was wearing an olive green hoody with the hood covering his face which was also disguised by a blue scarf.
Det Con Akehurst said: "Officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team are assisting detectives and will be looking into CCTV opportunities at the nearby train stations."
"Pridmore Bookmakers is on the busy A22 main road so I am keen to speak with anyone who was in the area at around 8.30pm on Thursday, 28 January as they may have vital information."
"It is important to remember that on each occasion no one was injured."
This was the third time in as many months that Pridmore Bookmakers has been hit by thieves.
The previous incidents occurred on 28 November and 23 December. On each occasion money was stolen.
Anybody with any information should contact Reigate CID on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference code TD/10/462, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Comments
by Kevin Hall, Caterham Reigate Toowoomba
Saturday, January 30 2010, 10:03PM
“Betting shops seem to be an easy cash cow for this guy if he is the same offender.
Not a regular punter so it seems he has driven down to collect a monthly income. I trust this income will be declared to Inland Revenue.
The same target is interesting so does the offender know when the shop has had a good day, that a gentle soul is the only person working and why the betting shop not bank excess cash on hand.
If I ran a business like this in Whyteleafe I'd keep a small float for cash payments up to 200 quid and pay customers any excess by direct bank credit and add an ATM fee if charged by their bank. Cheap insurance.
Punters can still have cash up to 200 quid and if they want more cash then they can go to an ATM.
The offender probably would have parked in Whyteleafe Rec car park with no surveillance and driven back home via Hamsey Green.
Best guess outside random strategy or inside job is a local punter monitors staffing.
Sooner we have dna, finger print other unique personal identifier to access our bank cash, the sooner we can do away with physical cash.
The other issue here is if we tagged everybody with satellite tracking then we'd know who was at any incident at any time.
Be a hoot switching on Wolf Scan and see who is doing what with whom. A genuine non-virtual soapie. If you have nothing to hide then who gives a damn who is tuning in......maybe royalties
can ease the pain of privacy invasion.
So, Whyteleafe and other like bookies, be smarter.
Cheers
Opening bowler for Mr Masani's Maple Road cricket team 50 years ago.”