Robber threatens woman with meat cleaver and steals poppy tin in bookmakers raid

A man threatened a staff member with a meat cleaver before making off with a Scottish Poppy Appeal tin in a robbery at a bookmakers in West Lothian.

The thief, who had been using a gaming machine, approached a female worker behind the counter and made the threat on Friday November 2 in Hopetoun Street, Bathgate.

The member of staff and a male customer were unharmed as a result of the incident.

A three-figure sum of cash was also stolen in the incident.

The man, who was noted as smelling of cannabis, is described as white and in his late twenties to early thirties.

He is around 5ft 10in to 6ft with a slim build and blue/green eyes that appeared bloodshot.

He is also described as having brown greasy hair that was short at the sides and longer on the top and was wearing a grey wind breaker-style jacket, a black scarf, black jogging bottoms and black trainers with white soles.

Detective Inspector Paul Batten, of Livingston CID, said: “This was a frightening attack which has left a female member of staff badly upset.

“We are eager to trace the man responsible as soon as possible.

“I would ask anyone who was in the Hopetoun Street area and saw anything suspicious, to get in touch with us immediately.”