Identically dressed masked thieves raided a travel agents in a busy town centre.

And their haul included the security video of them in action, which they ripped from the video machine shortly before they fled.

The pair, both wearing royal blue boiler suits, surgical plastic gloves and with black stockings over their heads, struck at Going Places in The Boulevard, Crawley, at 5pm yesterday.

There were hundreds of shoppers in the area at the time.

The thieves, who were unarmed, forced the three terrified staff to the back of the office and ordered one to open the safe.

They grabbed the contents and then the security tape, which contained footage of them bursting into the shop, before running off.

None of the staff was hurt in the raid, though all were left severely shocked. They were too scared the press the alarm button until the thieves had fled.

Police say it is not clear whether the men escaped by car or on foot and are hoping shoppers will come forward with information.

They said both men were black and in their mid-20s and had southern or London accents. Both were tall, one about 6ft and the other about 6ft 4in, and had short hair.

Going Places said it would not be revealing what was taken during the raid.

Spokeswoman Kate Aldridge confirmed staff were unharmed but declined to give further details. She said: "We have

alarms in all our shops but I am not able to discuss details of our security systems."

Det Sgt Dave Wilkins, of Crawley CID, said: "The staff were obviously frightened by these men. The men were very forceful and made threats but they weren't actually violent.

"It was very distressing for the staff and we regard it as a very serious offence. Fortunately no one was hurt.

"We need to know where these men were before and after the incident. Somebody must have seen them."

Anyone with information about the raid is urged to contact Det Con Neil Phillips at Crawley police station on 0845 6070999.

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