Staff threatened at gunpoint in Halifax jewellery store raid

Police are appealing for witnesses after staff at Lister Horsfall Jewellers, Halifax, were threatened at gunpoint before gunmen made off with a quantity of watches.

The raid, which police have described as “extremely frightening”, happened shortly before 5pm on Thursday, February 5, and involved three men who entered the store armed with a gun, crowbar and a hammer.

The men allegedly threatened staff at the store before making off with a large quantity of watches believed to be worth several hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Following the incident, it is believed the men fled on foot up Cheapside towards George Square.

Lee Mason, detective constable of Calderdale CID, said: “This was an extremely frightening and horrific incident. It is difficult to imagine how it feels to have a gun pointed at you. The staff members involved were understandably left shocked and extremely shaken by their ordeal.  Fortunately no one was injured as a result of the incident.

“We wish to speak to anyone who saw these men either before the incident or fleeing the scene afterwards. Once they got to the top of Cheapside it is believed that the males ran to the left heading for the Post Office.

“There will have been a number of people stood at the many bus stops in the area who may have seen them; we ask any of these people to come forward.”

The raid is the second in a month for Lister Horsfall Jewellers, located on Corn Market, which was previously targeted on January 5, when large quantities of watches were stolen.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call Calderdale CID on 101 or pass information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.