Gang raids Bolton pubs
Pub landlords in Lancashire have warned police they are being preyed on by a gang of robbers armed with knives, hammers and crowbars. Hosts in the Bolton area say they are being targeted by a three-man gang which always uses the same modus operandi striking at closing time, usually on a weekend evening, and making off with cash. Some brewery bosses have now installed panic alarms and staff have been told to take extra security measures. Licensees have told local media they believe the raiders have been targeting pubs along the A6 corridor because of easy motorway access. Recent raid victims have been the Waggon & Horses, the Brinsop Arms and the Royal Oak in Westhoughton, and the Jolly Crofters in Horwich. Brinsop Arms landlord Paul Young said: "My manager was threatened with a crowbar and customers and staff were forced to lay face down on the floor. "The gang stole £10,000 that Sunday night. My manager was so shaken he left the job. So did the assistant manager." He added: "I'm finding it difficult to get staff because of all these robberies." Police said they are investigating the raids and looking for any links between them. Derby crime rate jumps Police in Derby are to work with local licensees to reduce drink-related crime. Crime figures just released for the town show a substantial increase and police say this is partly due to a rise in the number of pubs, and an increase in offers of cut-price drinks. A Derby police spokesman said: "We appreciate licensees have a difficult job and are driven by people who want to make a profit out of them, but I think, in general, pubs need to be a lot more responsible. "You have only to look at the number of public houses and entertainment establishments it has gone through the roof. Almost every place you can think of has been sold and turned into a pub. There are far more places where these assaults tend to happen." The spokesman said police were now working closely with licensing magistrates to encourage pubs to fit closed-circuittelevision cameras. Pubs were also being encouraged to employ professional door staff. Spate of fake notes A warning has been issued for pubs in Leicestershire to look out for fake Scottish £20 notes. The message comes from David Boulting, of the Royal Oak in Great Glen, following a spate of dodgy bills being exchanged for goods in the Leicestershire village. A member of his staff was handed one in exchange for abottle of Pils, but before Boulting could take action, the customer had disappeared taking his goods with him. "We had been made aware the previous week by the local Co-op that somebody in the area had been using fake Scottish bills," said Boulting. "When I noticed the note, I walked around to the other three pubs in the village one of which, the Greyhound, had also taken a suspect bill." The bills had no watermarks or silver strips and were "particularly bad" said Boulting. Drive-by shooting A drive-by shooting in Potters Bar has led to calls for CCTV to be installed in the town. A shot is believed to have been fired outside the Anchor Fish Bar in Manor Road between midnight and 1.30am on Friday. Police are still unsure of the exact circumstances of the shooting but confirmed no-one was hurt. Potters Bar businessman John Godfrey has called on the police and Hertsmere Council to back plans for CCTV before someone is killed. He said: "The restaurant was petrol-bombed not too long ago and now we have a drive-by shooting. "What would have happened if somebody had been in the pub next door or had gone to get some fish and chips? "We have said in the crime and disorder meetings with the police that we will have a murder before too long. "We need CCTV. Since Borehamwood had it installed a few years ago, we have had all the problems passed on to us." Police believe that only asingle shot was fired. Detective Superintendent Bob Saunders, who is leading the investigation, appealed for any witnesses to the incident to call 01707 638235.
