Police have today stepped up their hunt for two masked robbers who raided a Hampshire convenience store.

Officers have launched a manhunt for the two male thieves who struck at the Co-op in Parsonage Barn Lane in Ringwood.

The store was cordoned off for much of the day yesterday after the pair raided the shop at around 7.25am, shortly after it opened.

The manager of the store said she and a male colleague were behind the tills when two masked people came in.

“One of them was definitely a man and he demanded money but didn't say much more.

“They wanted the keys to the safe but I told them I didn't have them.

“They got behind the tills and smashed one of them.”

 

The robbers made off with a quantity of cash and fled the scene in a car. No weapons were seen or used in the raid.

Police said that no weapons were seen or used in the raid.

Officers at the scene confirmed that no staff had been injured, but they were “shocked and shaken” by the incident.

Door-to-door enquiries were carried out yesterday morning and detectives have today stepped up their bid to find the masked men.

But the robbery has not shocked the majority of homeowners in the area.

One elderly resident of neighbouring Cloughs Road told the Daily Echo: “I live round the corner so I didn’t hear anything, but I've just walked round to get my paper and seen all this.

“They have had break ins here before – I think there was one last year at some point – so it’s not too much of a shock.”

Mother-of-two Wendy Keith, 69, added: “I came down here the other day and the glass in the door was smashed.

“There are a fair few youngsters that hang around here and they pull their trouser legs up and brag about having electric tags.

“The Co-op have to have someone stood on the door at lunch times because school kids go in there with their bags and nick stuff.

“It's a shame, but it happens everywhere.”

Another elderly woman added: “This isn’t the first time something like this has happened and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

“You live in fear a little bit around here, especially at my age.”

Police are now appealing for information in their bid to track down the robbers.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.