THE reign of terror created by a gang of armed robbers who have targeted business premises across the region continued this week in an early hours raid in the quiet village of Weeting.
Three men wearing balaclavas and armed with shotguns and a metal bar entered the village bowls club shortly after midnight on Tuesday and threatened five members, including chairman Kevin Newman, trustee Trevor Stapowicz and treasurer Paul Biggs, bef
ore stealing cigarettes, spirits and cash from the till and safe.
The armed gang then made off in a vehicle being driven by a fourth man.
Police have linked the incident to a series of armed robberies which have been carried out across West Norfolk in the past two weeks.
Mr Biggs had been working at the club during the course of the evening and was preparing to close for the night when the armed robbers struck.
He told the Lynn News: "Three armed men burst into the club with shotguns and a crow bar.
"They asked for everyone's mobile phone and wallet and then emptied the safe and till before taking cigarettes and spirits.
"They were only there for about eight minutes. They said if we came out of the door they would blow our heads off.
"I am just grateful no-one actually got shot. Needless to say everyone is a bit shaken. You just do not expect this thing to happen at a village bowls club."
Armed police and other units were immediately sent to the scene but no trace of the vehicle could be found.
Although the men brandished shotguns, no firearms were discharged and no-one was hurt.
Similar robberies have been reported in Nordelph, Stow Bridge, North Runcton, Upwell, Elm, near Wisbech and Wereham since the gang first struck on September 10.
