Lancing gunman could be linked to Rustington robbery

The masked robber threatened a teenage girl at gunpoint before snatching thousands of pounds in cash from a burger bar in Lancing on Saturday night (May 31).

The raider burst into Uncle Sam’s, in Crabtree Lane, at about 10.15pm, brandishing a black handgun and pointing it at an 18-year-old member of staff.

The gunman ordered her to open the safe, grabbing a ‘substantial amount of cash’, believed to be several thousand pounds.

The suspect is described as white, slim and not tall, and he spoke English.

He was wearing dark clothing with something covering the bottom half of his face, and he had a hood covering his head.

He was wearing gloves and carrying a black self-loading-type handgun with a red foresight.

Police forensic officers examined the scene and CCTV is being reviewed.

Detective Sergeant Colin O’Hare said “This is a very serious incident. The staff were unhurt but very shaken by the experience and to point the gun at the woman and forcing her to open the safe shows great callousness.

“This man needs to be caught and brought to justice as soon as possible.”

This is the third robbery at gunpoint in the Herald and Gazette area in little more than three weeks.

The first took place at the post office, in Salvington Road, Durrington, on Friday, May 9.

Days later, Maxted’s newsagents, in Worthing Road, Rustington, was targeted in a similar armed raid.

On Thursday (May 29) police offered a £1,000 reward for anyone who can help find the Maxted’s armed robbery suspect Sean Tierney.

The 27-year-old is wanted for questioning by detectives over the robbery in Maxted’s newsagents, in Rustington, on May 14.

Detective Inspector Dave Wardley-Wilkins said: “We have been looking for Sean Tierney for more than a week now but have been unable to trace him so we are hoping that the offer of a reward might persuade someone to get in touch with us.

“If anyone knows where he is or where he could be I would urge them to contact us immediately.

“If you see him do not approach him but instead call 999 please.”

“If you were in the area and saw this man, or if you have any other information, please contact us right away. You can call us on 101 quoting serial 1565 of 31/5, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Witnesses to the Lancing armed robbery should call 101 quoting serial 1565 of 31/5, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For more on the Rustington robbery, click here.