Robber 'blinds' bus driver with laser - then accomplice falls off vehicle

A hapless robber fell off a bus when the quick-thinking driver braked sharply after an accomplice tried to blind him with a laser.

The driver had been forced to stop because of a man standing in the road in Stoke-on-Trent shining the laser at him.

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A second robber then boarded the bus with a knife and demanded money.

However, the driver decided to accelerate and then brake sharply, causing the man to fall off the bus, reports the BBC.

The pair then ran off towards Weston Coyney.

The driver was not injured and there were no passengers on the bus at the time.

A First Potteries spokesman told the Stoke Sentinel: "The driver was shaken up by the incident but thankfully there was no injury to either party.

"The driver and the bus got back to the depot in Adderley Green without the assailants getting away with any money."

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses. A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who knows anything about this incident.

"Both men were dressed in black clothing and the man armed with the knife wore a scarf covering his face and a black bobble hat."

"Anyone with information is asked to call DC Cath MacKenzie on 101, quoting incident number 2 of November 4."

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.


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