TWO off-licences were raided by gun-toting robbers in the same area within an hour.
Detectives were today working out if the two robberies at Taylor Hill and Newsome are linked.
The first happened Close Hill Food Centre in Close Hill Lane, Taylor Hill, where owner Mrs Anoop Kaur Lola was sitting reading the Examiner when the thieves walked in at 6.35pm last night.
Both intruders were masked. One pointed a gun at her face and demanded money while his accomplice went behind the counter and pointed his gun at Mrs Lola’s head.
He reached down and grabbed two bags of change.
The robbers then fled.
Mrs Lola said she thought the two teenagers – who could be as young as 14 – were hanging around outside before the raid to make sure there were no customers inside at the time.
Mrs Lola said: “It was very frightening. It was quiet in the shop and I was just reading through the Examiner when these two came in with guns.
“I don’t know if the guns were real or not. They could not get the till open and they threatened me with the guns.
“Sometimes my daughter works in the shop and it could have been her. I’d seen one of them peering through the window 10 minutes earlier, but I thought he was looking for someone.”
Both robbers are white, aged between 14 and 19, about 5ft 7ins and wore light-coloured hooded tops and black ski masks. Both carried black handguns.
The second raid happened at SK News on Newsome Road, Newsome, at 7.25pm when two gunmen walked in and threatened Santokh Lal with their weapons.
One demanded the till to be opened and then they tried to open it themselves.
When they failed they ran off empty-handed and Mr Lal chased them for a short while.
Det Con Russ Conlon, of Kirklees CID intelligence unit, said: “Did anyone see them hanging around outside these shops before either raid without their masks on?
“If so, did anyone recognise them or see them escaping afterwards? Did anyone see them with a vehicle?’’
Phone Kirklees CID on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
