A police investigation is underway after a cashier was threatened by a man armed with a meat cleaver during a robbery at a bookmakers shop in Hopetoun Street, Bathgate around 7.20pm on Friday 2nd November.
More than £100 and a Scottish Poppy Appeal tin were stolen after a female workers were targeted by a man who had previously been playing a gaming machine in the shop.
The man, who had bloodshot eyes and was smelling of cannabis, approached the counter before producing the meat cleaver and demanding she hand over the money in a plastic bag.
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s to early 30s.
He is around 5ft 10in to 6ft with a slim build, blue/green eyes that appeared bloodshot and brown greasy hair that was short at the sides and longer on top.
He was wearing a grey wind breaker style jacket, a black scarf, black jogging bottoms and black trainers with white soles.
Detective Inspector Paul Batten of Livingston CID said: “This was a frightening attack which has left a female member of staff badly upset.
“We are eager to trace the man responsible as soon as possible.
“I would ask anyone who was in the Hopetoun Street area on the morning on Friday, November 2 and saw anything suspicious, to get in touch with us immediately.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
