Robbers weighed down by big haul

Bungling robbers were forced to flee empty-handed when bags they filled with stolen coins proved too heavy to carry.

Four masked men armed with a gun and knives attempted to rob a wholesaler near Coventry on Sunday.

Staff at Makro, at Gallagher Business Park, told the robbers the safe was protected by a security system, so they filled the bags with coins instead.

The incident happened late on Sunday evening and police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

'Fill holdall'

A police spokesperson said: "The staff were forced back into the store and the intruders demanded the manager open the safe.

"This he was unable to do because of a security system.

"The men then went to a coin store and proceeded to fill holdalls which became too heavy to lift and they (men) left empty-handed."

The spokesperson added: "No-one was injured during the robbery and neither the gun, described as a pistol type, or the knives were used."

All four men were wearing balaclavas, tracksuit bottoms and trainers.

They are described as slim and ranged between 5ft 3 and 5ft 11in tall.