ARMED ROBBERS TARGET LOCAL BUSINESS
In the early hours of last Monday morning 2 masked men burst their way in to a popular bar and restaurant and violently robbed and assaulted staff and customers.
It happened at 1.20am at The Tavern steakhouse and bar on the outskirts of Torremendo when the men, both wearing balaclavas, stormed through the front doors as staff were preparing to close for the night. One waved around a 5ft crowbar whilst the other brandished a sawn off shotgun.
They manhandled a female customer who is in her sixties, pushing her to the floor before approaching the 25-year old barman shoving the gun into his chest, leaving him badly bruised, “It was very violent.” Said owner Stuart Robinson, who was upstairs at the time of the attack, “My partner was downstairs as they were about to lock up.
She was told to stay in her seat while they ripped the jewellery off the elderly lady and took her credit cards. They took all the phones and a substantial amount of cash.”
Stuart soon realised something was not right and went downstairs to see a man leaving with the TV, he shouted as the TV was hauled at him and he gave chase before returning to check everyone was ok.
Naturally shaken up and in shock those involved say it felt like a lifetime, but camera footage shows the robbery lasted just 6 minutes. The young barman has now returned to the UK for a break to try and get over the ordeal while police continue their investigations and hunt for the perpetrators.
“The Guardia Civil were fantastic,” praises Stuart. “They were on the scene within minutes and we had patrol cars out searching that night and again the next morning. People are often very critical of the response from police here but I believe they are doing their upmost best to find them and I could not have expected better treatment from them.”
The attack is vaguely reminiscent of one which happened on another establishment several weeks ago. Stuart produces a newspaper article on the robbery and says there are a number of similarities; the robbers using violent methods and taking jewellery as well as cash and speaking in broken English and another international language.
As a result, Stuart wants to warn other businesses to be extra vigilant to this apparent gang which seems to be targeting bars and restaurants in the region.
Meanwhile he has increased his security at The Tavern and handed out panic alarms to staff, but it is now very much business as usual at this much loved and busy bar and restaurant.
