Tied up shop assistant a 'superstar' (From News Shopper)

Tied up shop assistant a 'superstar'

4:23pm Wednesday 20th August 2008 in

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A SHOP assistant who was tied up during an armed robbery at a golf club has been hailed "an absolute superstar".

Two men went into the shop at Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club in Orpington at 7.30pm on Sunday evening (August 17) armed with a handgun and a stun gun.

They tied the shop assistant, his girlfriend and a father and 13-year-old son up in the back office after they unsuccessfully tried to open the safe.

The robbers stole hundreds of pounds from the till before a third man helped his two accomplices to steal around 30 golf clubs.

Stand-in manager Gordon Dawson says staff are saddened and shocked.

He said: "Obviously we are all in shock, it's not the sort of thing that normally happens.

"We are reviewing our security arrangements.

"Police are using our CCTV to try and track down the individuals.

"We are obviously very saddened and very concerned for our staff's welfare."

Since the robbery the golf club has changed its closing time from 9pm to 7pm.

Mr Dawson, who is normally the sales manager, said of the shop assistant, known as Mike: "He is an absolute superstar, he's remarkably resilient, totally unfazed by it all.

"He was at work the following day."

The three men escaped in a silver/ blue Peugeot 405 which was later discovered burnt out nearby.

The golf clubs stolen from the course in Court Road, Orpington, were all made by Calloway and varied in type.

All three suspects are thought to be in their 30s, stocky and wearing dark tops.

Two of them wore stockings to disguise their faces and the third wore an orange Halloween mask.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Paul Bickley, from Tower Bridge Flying Squad, said: "This was a terrifying incident for the people who were inside the shop at the time of the robbery and although they suffered no physical injuries they were all shocked.

"The golf clubs stolen are of significant value and the robbers will now be trying to get rid of them.

"Therefore I ask that if members of the public are offered a Callaway golf clubs in suspicious circumstances they should contact us.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the incident room on 020 7232 6530, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to remain anonymous.