Three masked men armed with knives robbed a Co-op store in Braintree. 

The gang robbed the store in Mountbatten Road at 9.59pm last night, just one minute before it was due to close.

They threatened people who were in the shop with knives, forcing one man inside off the street, before taking the money out of the till and safe.

One person, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “There was a customer outside and he was presumably in the way so they forced him into the shop as well.

“They got money out of the till and forced staff to open a safe in the back office and ran off towards the school.

“My concern is the police have not caught the last lot.

“I think this is the seventh time, what are they doing about it?

“I know there is a limit to what they can do, but at the end of the day that’s not the point.

“How many times does it have to happen before they do something about it.

“I think the Co-op needs to be doing a bit more."

They got away with a hundreds of pounds and stole bottles of alcohol and cigarettes.   

The men were thought to be in their early 20s, of slim build and between 5ft10 and 5ft 11ins tall. 

Contact Dc Dave Glasgow at Braintree CID on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.