Cashier relives armed robbery terror

A restaurant worker yesterday relived her terror as she was confronted by a gun-wielding robber.

Solveiga Cailliere said: “The guy had a gun — I didn’t realise what he wanted at first. I just showed him the security cameras and said ‘you’d better run’.

“He got angry and hit the cash register with his hand — I walked back to the kitchen and the lady next door heard me talking louder than usual and she came to see what was happening. Then he ran off.”

Ms Cailliere, 38, originally from Lithuania, added: “It was unexpected, put it that way. You don’t know how you’ll react in a situation like that until it happens.”

Ms Cailliere was speaking after a raider targeted the Wok Express on Southampton’s Middle Road around 5.30pm on
Wednesday.

The man, who appeared to have a handgun, demanded cash before escaping empty-handed on foot.

Ms Cailliere,  who was back at her job yesterday morning, said: “It’s hard to say whether it was a real gun or not — I’m not an expert.”

She added: “We’re going to try and function as usual and hopefully he won’t come back. The police were here last night, but we were still open. It’s business as usual.”

Police said the suspect ran off through the rear of the restaurant towards Riviera Road.

The man was described as tall, skinny and wearing dark clothing.

A police spokesman said: “Detectives are interested in speaking with any potential witnesses, in particular members of the public who may have been in the Riviera Road area around 5.30pm on Wednesday and saw anything suspicious.”

He added: “No detail is too insignificant as this investigation progresses.”

Anyone with information which could help police should contact Det. Sgt Derricka Burns at the Somerset CIU on 234-1010.

The incident is the second armed robbery at a business premises in just three weeks.

The owner of the St David’s Variety Store was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint on Wednesday, February 6, around 9:30pm.

The man’s pregnant daughter was working in the store at the time. The raider, who had what appeared to be a handgun, escaped with a small amount of cash.

Police later released a CCTV image of a suspect and enquiries into the incident are continuing.