Published: Thursday, 13th May, 2010 7:05am

Brave postmaster thwarts masked robber's raid on shop

by Graham Gibson

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BUSINESS AS USUAL: Brave John outside his post office.

A BRAVE Crossgates postmaster foiled a masked robber who burst into his post office demanding cash as a child played in the shop.

John Gordon (57), who has owned Crossgates Post Office for 11 years, refused to panic as he denied the thief any money, forcing the crook to flee empty handed.

John admitted he could not believe how calm he remained during the attempted robbery just after 4pm on Monday, as he worked alone dealing with three customers.

"One woman had just finished being served and sat down and another lassie went over to the scales to get something weighed," he recalled.

"The robber just walked straight up to the counter and I just happened to glance up and thought, 'He's got a mask on'.

"It was like a tammy with holes cut in it.

"He just pushed a bag through the counter and says, 'I want some money', so I just pushed it back and said, 'Sorry, I'm not giving you any money.'

"He said, 'I'm asking you politely.' I said, 'Well, I'm telling you politely,' then he just took the bag, turned around and ran out the door."

It was only when reviewing the situation on CCTV with police later in the day that the gravity of the situation fully struck John.

"It was surreal, it wasn't until I was watching the CCTV with the police that I thought, did I really do that and say those things?" he admitted.

"There was a wee bairn running about so one of the lassies from the bingo shushed her out the road.

"If the robber had stayed I would have pressed the panic button but he just turned and went away.

"I had a look out of the side window and saw him running down Inverkeithing Road with his mask on and the lassie said I think you'd better phone the police."

Despite the trauma John, who works alongside his wife, Sandra, claims the incident has not affected his desire to run the post office.

"This has never happened before in 11 years so I'm not worried," he said.

"It's been the talk of the town and I've had plenty phone calls asking if I'm alright.

"I always wondered what I would do if somebody had come in like that. Now I've found out."

Detective Inspector Derek McEwan appealed for witnesses in the vicinity of Crossgates Post Office around the time of the robbery.

He said, "Witnesses traced have described how the man left the post office, crossed over at the traffic light junction at Inverkeithing Road then ran south on Dunfermline Road, Crossgates, away from the centre of the village.

"The man was wearing a blue/grey jacket and had a dark tammy/balaclava on at the material time."

He added that anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious should contact the police on 0845 600 5702 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.