Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

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Smile for the camera

It was never going to be the crime of the century, reports the Daily Mail, but for a few seconds, as he turned from the bookmaker's counter with a bundle of bank notes in his pocket, armed robber Lorenzo Mason thought he had pulled off the perfect heist.

Then it all went wrong. In his haste to leave the shop and merge into the passing crowd, he removed his disguise - right in front of the shop's security camera. To make matters worse for the hapless thief, the image was published in his local newspaper and Mason, 21, was given up to police - by his own mother.

Manchester Crown Court was told the bungled raid took place on June 30, after Mason had spent several minutes nervously loitering outside the Coral bookmakers in Levenshulme, Manchester, deciding whether to go ahead with the robbery.

Eventually, he pulled up his hood and threw a black scarf across his face, before storming into the shop with a gun. He pointed the weapon at 22-year old woman cashier Ashley Hunter, telling her: 'Give me all the money. I want all the notes. Don't move and don't touch anything.'

The victim placed more than £600 in a bag and handed it to Mason, who also attempted to grab a coin tray but dropped it on the floor. 

Mason feared he would arouse suspicion if he darted into the street with his scarf still wrapped around his face, so he stopped at the door to remove it. A CCTV camera at the entrance captured his face in a clear close-up shot.

3rd November 2010