Hunt for Air Ambulance robber (From Dudley News)

Hunt for Air Ambulance robber

3:17pm Wednesday 20th June 2012 in News

POLICE have released new information in their hunt for armed robbers who carried out a heartless raid which rocked the borough.

A year after three masked men held 13 Midlands Air Ambulance staff hostage and stole £12,000 from the charity's Brierley Hill HQ, police have named a man they wish to interview in connection with the incident.

Detectives say Richard Oliver Gray, aged 30, may be able to help with their enquiries into the raid, which happened on June 21, and are linking the offence to another robbery in the Black Country.

Detective Sergeant Jim Munro, from West Midlands Police, said: “We are appealing for anyone who may know the whereabouts of Mr Gray to contact us.

Gray is also wanted in connection to a robbery that occurred at Dudley MBC, Pear Tree Lane, Coseley, on 7 June 2011."

The gang burst into the air ambulance offices, at Enterprise Trading Estate, Pedmore Road, armed with a Taser gun and after taking the cash, which was all charity donations, they made off in a Peugeot 308 belonging to a member of staff. The car was later recovered in the Dudley area.

Hanna Sebright, Midlands Air Ambulance chief executive, said: “A year on and the team still find it hard to comprehend that people could steal money from a lifesaving charity. We know that the public feel as strongly as we do about this disgraceful theft and we hope that the three men responsible will be brought to justice soon.

“The £12,000 taken from the charity could have paid for vital lifesaving equipment such as a new cardiac monitor. A great deal of hard work, passion and commitment went into raising such a large sum of money."

However, those responsible have not stopped the staff, public, volunteers and donors continuing to raise funds, on the contrary. This despicable act has given the team a stronger sense of determination."

Detectives are urging anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr Gray to come forward and are also appealing for information about a dark coloured Ford Mondeo seen at the time of the incidents.

Anyone with information should call DS Munro at West Midlands Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.