Armed men threaten couple in spate of pub raids
A COUPLE were threatened by masked men armed with blades in one of four overnight pub raids across the district in the space of an hour.
The Duke of York in Gosberton Risegate was the last pub to be targeted on Monday morning when three men burst into the bar, attacking gaming machines and taking an unknown amount of cigarettes, money and jewellery.
The burglars broke through the front door locks and forced their way into the bedroom of landlady Susan Goodenough and her partner Phil Britten brandishing knives.
She said: "I have been landlady here 15 years, and in that time we have been broken into twice before and suffered an arson attack.
"I have seen the doctor and hopefully I will feel much better later, because it was just a terrifying experience."
In a strange coincidence two of the other pubs targeted - the Royal Mail Cart, in Spalding, and the Plough, in Holbeach St Johns - were both struck in a raid on the same night just over a year ago.
On that night (January 25, 2009) masked men also targeted four venues in south Lincolnshire and attacked a landlady.
The latest incidents started at around 3.10am when thieves stole 10 from the till after entering the Plough.
Four minutes later a member of the public alerted police to suspicious looking men near his property in Weston Hills, who roared off in a dark car with a "loud exhaust".
Shortly afterwards two men were disturbed on the roof of the nearby Bell Inn, and at 3.35am a man was disturbed on the roof of the Royal Mail Cart public house on Pinchbeck Road.
All the men left without gaining entry before the final attack, at the Duke of York on Risegate Road, at around 4.10am.
DS Steve Knubley, of Spalding CID, believes the five incidents are connected.
He said: "I am also in touch with officers in Cambridgeshire where two incidents in their area may also be connected.
"The couple in the Duke of York were obviously very frightened when the three men threatened them, but thankfully they were not physically assaulted.
"It is also possible that whoever carried out these burglaries and attempted burglaries are travelling criminals and came from outside the county.
"Any information will be treated in the strictest confidence and I urge anyone with any information to get in touch."
Anyone with information can call 01522 532222 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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