Armed robber uses pregnancy trick

A woman robbed a Cambridgeshire petrol station after tricking staff by pretending to be pregnant.

Cambridgeshire Police said she knocked on the door of the Esso garage on the A14 at Spaldwick late on Sunday and asked to use the toilet.

A man also entered the shop and when the woman returned from the toilet she pulled out a handgun and threatened the female employee before tying her up.

Two masked men then joined them and the gang escaped with cigarettes and cash.

'Frightening ordeal'

Police said the gang had pulled up at the petrol station in a red saloon car and the woman had hidden a hold-all under her top to make her look pregnant.

She filled the bag with cigarettes and money during the robbery.

A police spokesman said the employee was "shaken but not injured".

The female robber was white, between 28 and 35 years old, with a slim build. She was dressed in dark clothing.

The men were all dressed in dark clothing.

Det Insp Jon McAdam said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the member of staff, who genuinely believed she was helping out a pregnant woman.

"I would appeal for anyone with information about this crime to come forward, particularly anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious."