Police chase armed robber

11:46am Friday 3rd August 2001

An armed robber tried to fire a pistol at police officers yesterday morning , after he crashed a getaway vehicle in South Croydon, narrowly missing an 82-year-old pedestrian.

The robber struck at Mickey's News, on Station Parade at 9.05am on Thursday, August 2, pulling a hand gun

from a box and threatening a 50-year-old female post office assistant.

He fled with change from the till when he was disturbed by a customer entering the shop and made his

escape in a Mercedes.

But he was spotted and pursued by a police patrol car on Pampisford Road, which followed the car until

it mounted a pavement on Haling Park Road, bursting one of the front tyres

and narrowly missing the elderly pedestrian.

Police officers approached the vehicle and managed to get hand cuffs on one of the suspect's

arms, when he produced the pistol with the free arm and tried to fire it at close range.

But the gun jammed and while officers backed off, the armed suspect made his escape.

A man was later arrested and police are appealing for witnesses to help with their investigation.

Anyone with information should call the Flying Squad on 020 7407 6319.

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