Staff and customers at a Stockport travel agent were left terrified as they were made to lie on the floor by machete-wielding armed robbers.
The gang of three masked men struck at Co-op Travel, in Merseyway shopping centre, central Stockport, on Friday afternoon at 5.15pm.
One carried a machete and the men stole a large amount of foreign currency before escaping from the scene in a silver Alfa Romeo.
They threatened members of the public and staff, forcing them to lie down as they demanded the cash.
Police have appealed for witnesses and describe the gang as three men wearing dark clothes and balaclavas with local accents.
A police spokesman said: “We received a call at 5.15pm on Friday and responded to reports that men had entered the Co-op travel agency with a machete.
“They threatened members of the public and staff and were seen getting into a silver Alfa Romeo.”
No one was injured in the robbery and although police have not confirmed the amount of currency stolen it is described as ‘significant’.
So far there have been no arrests in connection with the incident.
It is the second robbery involving a machete in a week in Stockport.
The previous Saturday afternoon a 67-year-old man was left needing hospital attention following an a attack at his home in Durham House, Old Chapel Street, Edgeley.
He was left with a cut head and two crooks made off from his flat empty handed.
Read more: Seven arrested after break-in at Stockport factory containing a high value of metal
Read more: Could this Stockport great-grandma be the north west's longest-serving volunteer?
Police patrols have since been stepped up in the area.
And on Tuesday, May 24, two supermarkets in the borough were also targeted by crooks.
Five men, one of whom was thought to be carrying a crowbar, forced their way into Morrisons, in Reddish, at 1.45am.
Once inside they stole till drawers, scratch cards and cash.
Police have arrested one man on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
On the same day three men tried to storm the staff quarters at Aldi, on Weybrook Road, Heaton Chapel, at 1pm.
But when they failed to get inside the office they ran back to a blue BMW waiting nearby and were driven away by another man.
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
