Post office "a bit insecure' police
officer tells Wick robberies jury trial

THIEVES got away with £3000 in a raid on the Wester-Ross post office at
Achiltbuie and stock valued at £4,744 a jury heard yesterday.
(Wednesday)
Once again, during the trial of two men charged with a series of
robberies in the Highlands and north-east of Scotland, security was
said to be lacking and Wick Sheriff Court was also told that police
investigations switched to a house in England, at one point.
The front door at the Wester-Ross P.O. had probably only required a
strong shoulder push against it and investigating officer James McCann
commented that the premises didn’t have an alarm system in place and
were “a bit insecure”. Two other post offices, at Duncanston, on the
Black Isle and at Archiestown, in Morayshire, which were also targets,
didn’t have proper security, the trial was told earlier this week.
In the dock are John Hind, 54, from Colne, in Lancashire, and Matthew
Peters, 40, from Bournemouth. They deny breaking into post offices and
other commercial premises and stealing cash totalling £34,497 and stock
amounting to £10, 508.
Detective Constable McCann outlined how the thieves had operated in the
Achiltibuie raid on October 2, 2007.
He said that an inside door had also been forced and a heavy object
wedged in it, to keep it open. A third door, leading to the office
area, was also forced and then the thieves then vaulted a counter to
get at the safe at the back. There was a trail of scrapes on the floor
where something heavy had been moved.
Mr McCann said: “We also found the tyre marks of a trolley which we
suspect was used to take the heavy safe away” and he added that it
would otherwise have taken two men to lift it.
The safe was found dumped on an embankment at the back of a layby,
three miles from Achhiltbuie, and was not visible from the road. It
appeared to have been opened by cutting gear and some post office
stock, such as plastic bags, stamps and coins, was scattered about.
Mr McCann told the court, that, in mid-October, he was involved in the
search of a property in England, accompanied by a number of his
colleagues but had played only a secondary role and added that his
police colleague who had had a leading role, would be able to speak to
that.
Sheriff Andrew Berry and the jury also heard that the thieves also
struck at The Smokehouse at Altandhu, near Achiltibuie, around the same
time. Again, entry had been gained by forcing a rear door using “body
pressure”. However, the thieves left empty-handed. Amongst the
forensic test made, was a partial footprint on a piece of glass.
Detective Sgt John Hanson who was also involved in both investigations
said that the forensic evidence gathered, would be passed on for
scientific analysis.
Alan Macleod QC for Matthews asked: “If there was any evidence of a
match from these tests, you would expect us to hear something about it.”
Mr Hanson replied: “I would have thought so, yes.”
The post office at Kyle, which was also raided, did have an alarm. But
it had been sprayed with foam to stop it sounding.
Earlier in the week, it was stated that the police stopped Hind and
Matthews on the M6 heading north.
They said they were heading north to renovate a cottage in Caithness
and had the required tools in the back of their vehicle. There was
nothing suspicious about them, the court was told.
The trial which has already heard evidence from more than 60
witnesses, continues.