NEIGHBOURS watched in horror as armed police swooped into their quiet residential street following a security van robbery.

Alexandra Road in Burnham on Crouch was sealed off after the incident outside the NatWest Bank in the High Street on Thursday 24th July.

Seven people including two teenagers were later arrested.

The town has been left shocked in the wake of the raid.

Burnham mayor Carole Noble said: “It's the first armed robbery we've had in Burnham on Crouch. It was a shock to a lot of people, especially when weapons are involved. There's been talk of nothing else – there's been lots of rumours and speculation.

“People realise this is something that doesn't happen every day in Burnham, they see it as quite a bungling attempt. Bonnie and Clyde they certainly weren't.

“We've never seen so many armed police and helicopters in Burnham on Crouch. It could have been a very dangerous situation, but the police dealt with it admirably.”

Betty Robertson, from Glynn Road, was alerted to the drama by the police helicopter overhead and dogs barking.

She said: “Things like this do not happen in Burnham. It's a nice place and guns are not funny – not in Burnham. We really need more police here. Somebody might have been killed.”

Hilary Escott, sole practitioner at Harvey Escott and Co. solicitors, whose offices are in the same building as NatWest bank said: “It's scary. Burnham is just a quiet place, it's like a sleepy little village.”

Police said a cash box containing £25,000 was stolen from a security van outside the NatWest bank on the High Street last Thursday (July 24).

On Saturday three men were remanded in custody, accused of robbery in Burnham on Crouch.

James Richards, 21, from Dagenham, David Speed, 20, from Bradwell on Sea and James Quinn, 22 of no fixed abode, appeared before Chelmsford magistrates on Saturday morning.

They were each charged with one count of robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. Bail was refused and the three men will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 13 for a plea and case management hearing.

A 16-year-old girl from Burnham on Crouch was also charged with assisting an offender and released on police bail to appear at Witham Youth Court on August 12.

A 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man from the Burnham on Crouch area have been released on police bail, while a 39-year-old woman from Burnham on Crouch received a police caution for assisting an offender.

Anyone with information should contact Essex Police on 0300 333 4444

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