Robbed butcher shut in freezer

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 1

Robbed butcher shut in freezer

Two masked robbers, one armed with a sawn-off shotgun, escaped with about $l5OO from a Shirley butchery last evening after shutting a butcher in his freezer.

The butcher. Mr Warren Battersby. of the Shirley Butchery, was shaken but unhurt in the hold-up. Detective Senior-Sergeant Michael Muddiman said that the robbers came into the butchery, at the corner of Shirley and Marshland Roads, about 8 p.m. Mr Battersby was working in the walk-in freezer at the back of the shop.

The men told Mr Battersby to stay in the freezer and closed’ its door. They then took $l5OO in cheques and cash from the till, said Detective SeniorSergeant Muddiman.

Mr Battersby left the freezer about 10 minutes later after opening the door from the inside.

Detective Senior-Sergeant Muddiman said the police would like to hear from anyone who saw two people leave the butchery about 8 p.m. It was not known how the robbers fled the scene. Both men wore pantyhose over their heads. The robber with the shotgun is described as stocky, about 173 cm (sft Bin) tall, and wore a waterproof khaki shirt. The other man is described as about 176 cm (sft 9in) tall, and wore a light-blue flannel beach hat.