Police probing petrol station robberies after worker 'has knife held to throat' and another rushed to hospital
Police are probing two petrol station robberies which saw one worker hospitalised and another allegedly having a knife held at their throat.
The incidents took place at garages just 1.4miles apart yesterday/on Tuesday afternoon.
A robber targeted the Esso garage in Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, Ayrshire, just before 2pm.
Another incident took place at the BP garage in the neighbouring town of Saltcoats just after 4pm.
Police Scotland confirmed today that both incidents are being investigated but that they are not being treated as linked.
And sources say that the second incident saw a knife held to the throat of the female employee, who is said to have worked in the BP garage for 30 years.
Police have not released a description of the man responsible for the BP robbery, but family of the worker said he was 30 to 40 years old.
They said that he was wearing a dark t-shirt, dark trousers and a grey baseball cap at the time of the incident.
One said: "It's been such a shock to everyone that something like this would happen down here.
"Her family members were appealing for witnesses on Facebook, saying she had a knife held to her throat.
"She was obviously left shaken up by it and they want to catch whoever was responsible as soon as possible."
Both garages were locked down with police standing guard following the incidents.
A police van and an officer wearing a hi-vis uniform were stationed outside the Esso in Ardrossan, with the forecourt blocked off by traffic cones.
At least nine officers in uniform and five police vehicles were seen at the BP in Saltcoats just after the incident.
It also looked like CID officers, wearing plain clothes, were in the forecourt, which was also blocked off by traffic cones.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.50pm on Tuesday, 15 September, we received a report of a robbery at a filling station on Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.
“A member of staff was taken to hospital to be checked over as a precaution but was not injured.
“Enquiries are ongoing and officers are following a positive line of enquiry.
“Around 4.05pm on Tuesday, 15 September, we were called to a report of a robbery at a filling station on High Road, Saltcoats.
“No one was injured and enquiries are ongoing to trace the man responsible and establish the circumstances.
“Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2138 of 15 September, 2026."
One onlooker said: "It was absolute madness up there at the BP, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was trying to get in for petrol but was turned away.
"I've never seen as many officers at an incident before, you'd think it was a murder they were there for with the huge response.
"Traffic cones were placed across the entrance to the forecourt, and the officers were standing there for quite a while.
"The officers were in two groups, four or five officers in each group, one group at the entrance to the forecourt and one next to the entrance to the shop.
"It also looked like there might have been CID officers there, or maybe it was people from another agency, they were dressed in plain clothes."
Comments