Attempted robbery at Barking petrol station frightens family
Tesco garage in Barking - Credit: Archant
Robbers attempted to snatch a driver’s car keys as he filled up his vehicle at a petrol station.
The three men assaulted the 34-year-old in the near empty Tesco forecourt in Highbridge Road, Barking, at 3.20am on Bank Holiday Monday before fleeing towards the supermarket’s car park.
The victim was left with minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.
James Thompson, who witnessed the incident as he set out on a road trip to Cornwall with his partner and three young children, told the Post that his whole family had been left shaken.
Deciding to stop to make sure that his car’s tyres were pumped up fully ahead of the long journey he says that he didn’t think anything of it until he “heard a commotion”.
“When I looked around the driver was being pulled out of the car feet first by three big-looking guys,” James, who lives in Dagenham, said.
“The driver was trying to hold on, then a lot of red spray went everywhere.
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“I didn’t know what to do as I needed to get my family safe.”
James, 30, says his three children have been left “petrified” by what they saw.
A Tesco spokesperson said the store was fully supporting the police with their enquiries.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
