Raiders steal 2 mln pounds in cash depot heist

LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) Raiders have stolen nearly two million pounds in cash after ramming a lorry into a bank depot on an industrial estate in Staffordshire, police said.

Up to five men escaped with the money from the NatWest depot in Tamworth.

The thieves wore masks or crash helmets and high visibility jackets as they drove a skip lorry into the building, smashing through a wall late on Wednesday night.

No weapons were used and no one was hurt.

''The raid was over very quickly. Thankfully no one was injured,'' Detective Inspector Bob Titley said in a statement yesterday.

The area has been sealed off for forensic examination and detectives are appealing for help in finding a car and motorcycle used as getaway vehicles.

The haul of nearly two million pounds marks it as one of Britain's biggest cash thefts but it pales into insignificance with the 53 million pounds stolen in a raid in Kent in February.

That money was stolen in an armed raid on a Securitas depot in Tonbridge by a gang who posed as police officers.

Nearly 20 million pounds has been recovered and a number of people have been charged over the heist.

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