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Police hunt Burkha bandits
27 Aug 2009Robbers disguised in burkhas were being hunted by detectives today.
Two police forces are investigating three robberies which have been carried out recently by men dressed in the Islamic garment.
Bedfordshire police are investigating robberies in two separate travel agents in the past two months.
A force spokesman said that in the first, a man dressed in a black burkha went into First Choice Travel in The Broadway, Dunstable, on Tuesday July 7, at around 10.15am.
He threatened two female members of staff with a knife, then took a "substantial amount of cash" and escaped through a back door, police said.
More than a month later, on Sunday August 16, a man dressed in a black burkha threatened two female members of staff at Thomson travel agent in George Street, Luton at about 10.55am.
He made off with a large amount of cash, and escaped through the front door before heading off on foot.
In a third incident on Tuesday in neighbouring Oxfordshire, armed robbers - one wearing a burkha - stole watches worth £150,000.
Three men went into Michael Jones Jewellers in Banbury High Street at about 2.20pm. They threatened four members of staff, a man and three women, with what is described as a handgun and an axe, and stole watches worth around £150,000, Thames Valley Police said.
The men left the shop and got into a waiting black Audi Estate, which then drove off towards Broad Street.
Police said the men were of Asian appearance and two were wearing dark clothing with their faces covered. The third was dressed in a burkha.
Detectives from both forces called for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
Det Con Steve Guerin, from Bedfordshire Police, who is investigating the Luton robbery, said: "Officers are keeping an open mind as to whether these incidents are connected but the pattern the offenders have followed is strikingly similar."
Reader views (7)
If I went to live in the middle-east and I was required to wear a burkha I would be more than happy to do so. I would expect to abide by their rules.
However, in western society it is regarded as bad manners to not look someone in the eye while you are conversing. This is our culture and this is the way it should be in our country.
Middle Eastern people come and live in our countries for many reasons, but they should respect our way of doing things. For them not to do so, in my eyes, is ethnocentric.
It was only a matter of time before the burkha would be used as a disguise for criminal acts, but I wonder how much time it will take before our governments wake up to this and take on the same approach as France?
- Louise, New Zealand, 14/09/2009 11:43
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The wearing of the burkha in public is incompatible with British society and should be banned, just as it is in France. Unfortunately the English leadership does not have the backbone to do this.
- M. John Namrah, San Diego, USA, 27/08/2009 18:54
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Picture this:a bank in Eastern Kenya earlier this year,a muslim couple enter a bank.The man joins the queue,the veiled lady sits down to wait.The security guard gestures with his hand,she removes her veil.There is no problem,she even leaves the bank without her veil in place.
P.S. It must be hard to do a 'runner' in a burkha,perhaps he is wearing roller blades.
- Jimfred, London Uk, 27/08/2009 11:00
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Yet again shows what an effective weapon for theft and terrorism the burkha has become. You can't identify thieves who cover their faces - which is why motorcyclists must remove their helmets in banks etc. But of course the politically correct liberals have made the burkha a "special case".
- Thomas, London, 27/08/2009 09:43
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What people have been saying for years " if you cannot see a persons face how can you identify them, or feel safe"; for example motorcyclists must remove helmets before entering shops.
This ridiculous practice of burkha wearing must stop right now, my health and safety rights must take precedence.
If people say they must wear a burkha, that’s fine just go to another country that is more relevant to this outdated practice. I want to feel safe in the country that I live in
- Jaminder, London, England, 27/08/2009 09:26
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There you have it,reason enough to ban the burkha.Aside from this indcident a volent Somalian used this guise to flee this country not so long ago.
It may 'offend' some but it's pretty obvious our thieving desperate society cannot be trusted anymore.
- Steve, London, 27/08/2009 09:18
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The perfect crime. Trying to find the guilty will be like looking for a needle in a politically correct haystack.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 27/08/2009 08:05
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