Armed bandits at pawnbroker; CRIME: Jewel raider terrorised staff with a crowbar.

Byline: Mark Cowan

STAFF at a pawnbrokers were terrorised by armed bandits who threatened them with a crowbar during a smash-andgrab raid.

Three masked robbers burst into the Albermarle & Bond pawnbrokers, in Bearwood Road, Bearwood, at about 4.50pm yesterday afternoon.

Two female workers were made to lie down while the robbers raided cabinets.

West Midlands Police said they escaped with a substantial quantity of jewellery.

The three raiders fled through the back of the store into Anderson Road where they are thought to have jumped into a waiting getaway car.

Detectives today appealed for anyone who saw a dark VW Golf R32 high-powered model, possibly on a false registration plate of KR56 PFR, to come forward. Det Con Matt Dyer, from Smethwick CID, said: "People will have been leaving work or their offices at the time and we want to hear from anyone who may have seen the car driving quite quickly around the back streets of Bearwood.

"This was a particularly frightening experience for the staff concerned and we are determined to bring these men to justice."

Witnesses can contactSmethwick CID on 0845 113 5000.

CAPTION(S):

Smash-and-grab: Police investigate a robbery at the Albermarle & Bond's Cheque & Pawn on the Bearwood Road.