THIS IS FINDON — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

FUGITIVES FIND FINDON HIDEAWAY

Copyright Valerie Martin 2002.

Originally published in Along the Furlong, December 2002.

In a small parish like that of Findon there is always something surprising happening whether it is over by the church or in the village centre. 

Those of you living in the village may remember the police presence in January last year following an armed robbery.

This autumn the police sent word that four men were sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison at Lewes Crown Court for the robbery at one of Worthing’s Sub Post Offices which ended in a chase to Findon.

Three of the men from London pleaded guilty a fourth from London was found guilty after the trial.

It was 12:45 back on January 26th 2001 when three of the men with their heads covered entered the Sub Post Office in Downland Parade, Upper Brighton Road, Worthing (opposite Sainsbury's Supermarket at Lyons Way) — whilst the third man, Christian King, remained in the vehicle parked outside.

Two of the raiders jumped onto the counter and used force to pull down the security screen before using it as a ramp to gain access to the rear of the counter. The other man acted as their lookout as they were doing this. They stole £1,700 from the till before they made their getaway in the waiting car, which had been stolen earlier in London in readiness for this escapade.

A member of the public witnessed the felons' getaway and bravely turned her car around to follow them for long enough to get the registration number. She had the presence of mind to pass this immediately to the police.  

The offending vehicle was spotted in Findon Village a few minutes later by a dog unit where it  made off into the village and was found abandoned in the quietude of Fox Lea.   (They no doubt discovered Fox Lea was rather a mistake for an escape because it is a cul-de-sac).

The police helicopter was soon in the air and circling Findon.  Police dogs were on the ground and Findon was cordoned off.  A huge police search began in the village.  After four hours, all four men were in custody and the money had been recovered.

A police dog unit found one of the men hiding in a shed at 29 Steep Lane with the money and was handcuffed and led quietly away ...... and another was discovered hiding in a nearby garage.   In spite of immediately going out to see the excitement at the time, I found that all was quiet in Steep Lane and it was deserted.   

The third man was found wandering around Findon village after reports from the public of a man covered in mud asking for the nearest railway station.  The other was found in the Village House in The Square having drawn attention to himself by reading a newspaper upside down!  The proceeds of the theft were recovered and the robbers, who came from London, were released on bail until the court case.

The two men who climbed behind the counter at the Sub Post Office were both sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. The third received a six year prison sentence, as did the fourth who drove the men away from the scene of their crime.

Detective Constable Jodie Moss who was in charge of the case said ”This was a brilliant result all round which began with an excellent piece of vigilance by a member of the public in spotting the getaway vehicle. This sighting led to a massive police search lasting four hours which resulted in the arrest of all four offenders and the recovery of the money”.

THIS IS FINDON — was launched in January 1999 and will grow to be a historical record of life in Findon, West Sussex, U.K.