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'Skull Cracker' Michael Wheatley may have struck again as police respond to armed robbery in Surrey 'Skull Cracker' Michael Wheatley 'strikes again' and escapes on foot as police respond to armed robbery in Surrey
(about 1 hour later)
The fugitive bank robber Michael Wheatley, known as the "Skull Cracker", may have struck again while on the run from police. The fugitive bank robber Michael Wheatley, known as the "Skull Cracker", appears to have struck again while on the run from the police.
Officers are investigating whether Wheatley, 55, is linked to a robbery at a branch of the Chelsea Building Society in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey at 10.20am today. Officers said a man, described as in his late 40s or early 50s and wearing a dark woolly hat, threatened a member of staff at a branch of Chelsea Building Society in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey at 10.20am today and escaped with a quantity of cash.
Surrey Police said they were working with Kent Police while they carried out ongoing enquiries. Wheatley went missing while on temporary leave from an open prison in Kent. The robber used a handgun but left the staff-member unhurt, if shaken. He escaped the premises on foot, although officers are also investigating the possibility he may have got into a vehicle afterwards.
The fugitive was last spotted on Tuesday in Twickenham, less than six miles from Sunbury itself. Surrey Police said that due to "the nature of the offence and elements of the description" they are working with Kent Police on their enquiries into the whereabouts of Wheatley, 55, who went missing while on temporary leave from an open prison in Kent.
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: "At 10.20am today Surrey Police responded to reports of an armed robbery at a building society in Sunbury. The incident took place at the Chelsea Building Society at The Parade, Staines Road. Detective Chief Inspector Chris Raymer, of Surrey Police, said: "Officers were at the scene within minutes of the emergency call and are doing everything possible to find the offender including recovering CCTV from the premises and surrounding area.
"Officers, including specialist firearms officers, are currently at the scene. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken to police should call 101." "Anyone who was in this area at the time and may have seen the offender is urged to contact police with information if they have not done so already by calling 101."
Wheatley is due to serve 13 life sentences and gained his nickname for pistol-whipping his victims during armed raids. Police stressed that while they are investigating a link to Wheatley, the identity of the offender in Sunbury had not been confirmed.
Wheatley failed to return on Sunday to the Standford Hill prison on the Isle of Sheppey to continue serving his life term imposed in 2002 for raids on banks and building societies while on parole. He has links across the south-east of England. Wheatley, who was last spotted on Tuesday just six miles away in Twickenham, is due to serve 13 life sentences and gained his nickname for pistol-whipping his victims during armed raids.
He failed to return on Sunday to the Standford Hill prison on the Isle of Sheppey to continue serving his life term imposed in 2002 for raids on banks and building societies while on parole. He has links across the south-east of England.
His escape has prompted the prisons minister, Jeremy Wright, to launch a review. "We are not prepared to see public safety compromised," he said. "The system has been too lax up to now and we are changing that."His escape has prompted the prisons minister, Jeremy Wright, to launch a review. "We are not prepared to see public safety compromised," he said. "The system has been too lax up to now and we are changing that."
Tory MP Philip Davies said: "It is ludicrous that a prisoner serving a life sentence is even in an open prison where they can simply walk out.Tory MP Philip Davies said: "It is ludicrous that a prisoner serving a life sentence is even in an open prison where they can simply walk out.
"As far as I am concerned whoever allowed him to be in an open prison should be sacked; it is a complete disgrace.""As far as I am concerned whoever allowed him to be in an open prison should be sacked; it is a complete disgrace."