Bristol post office robbed
Manie Ghuman, said staff at the Westbury-on-Trym post office were "courageous" after they set off alarms to scare away the robber.
A man in his mid-20s entered the post office at about 3pm on Wednesday of last week, leaned over the open front counter and forced himself over the barrier.
He pushed the till on to the floor, scooped up coins and notes and fled.
Staff were left shaken by the incident, but no one was injured.
Mr Ghuman, from Downend, the office's sub-postmaster for the last three years, said: "A young female member of staff was on the counter, and was a little traumatised by it.
"There were also two members of the public in there at the time, and they were also very shocked.
"One member of staff pressed the panic button to alert the police and ran out into the shop to break the fire glass to cause a distraction, which was very clever and courageous."
The post office was closed until the following lunchtime while police forensics officers dusted for fingerprints. CCTV footage is being examined to identify the culprit.
He is described as a white man in his mid-20s with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a sports jacket with a horizontal logo on the front, a scarf and a black beanie hat.
Mr Ghuman, aged 48, warned the public to be careful when collecting their money.
He added: "I am very proud of the way my staff handled the incident, the way they reacted and behaved in a professional manner."
Post Office spokesman, Tom Prendergast, said: "We would never encourage Post Office people to put themselves in danger. However, instinct can take over and their actions should be commended."
Anyone who witnessed the incident should call Bristol CID on 0845 456 7000.
● A 73-year-old woman had her purse stolen from her handbag at 12.45pm yesterday while she was in the public toilets on Westbury-on-Trym High Street.
A 30-year-old woman was arrested nearby and was being questioned by police last night.
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