The day’s takings were stolen from Farmfoods in Luton in an “audacious” daylight robbery yesterday (August 15).
A man pushed his way into the shop in Park Street at 6.20pm as the store manager was banking the takings, and demanded he hand over the cash.
He then made the manager smash several computers and the CCTV camera and hand over the CCTV hard drive before fleeing.
The burglar pushed past a store worker who was having a cigarette near a fire exit at the shop on his way in.
He is described as a black male, in his late 20s or early 30s, around five feet eleven inches tall, of medium build and wearing a black hooded top and blue jeans.
Det Con Tom Hamm, who is investigating the raid, said: “This was a very audacious robbery which took place in broad daylight at a time when the town would have been swarming with people finishing work and making their way home. The Mall would have only closed a short time beforehand and I am positive that someone will have seen something.
“I’m particularly keen to speak with witnesses who would have been waiting for buses in Church Street, right opposite the fire exit which the offender used to enter and leave the store. The road was very busy with pedestrians, motorists and those waiting for public transport so I would urge anyone who may have seen anything to get in touch.”
Officers are currently reviewing footage from several other CCTV cameras around the town centre but are keen to speak with anyone who may have been in the area and seen the offender either before or after the incident.
If you have information relating to this incident, contact DC Hamm, in confidence, on 01582 394498, the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. t