Car equipped for theft outside town centre bank

Date published: 17/11/2008

A car seen outside a Rochdale town centre bank was later found to contain an axe, a crow bar, masks, gloves and a lump hammer.

The Skoda Octavia attracted police attention when it was parked near the bank while an Armed Response Vehicle accompanied a delivery last Thursday night (13 November).

It was later seen in Failsworth where it was stopped by a police patrol and officers found the robbery equipment when they searched the vehicle.

Paul Joseph Phillips, 31, of no fixed address was charged with going equipped for theft. He was arrested along with two other men aged 33 and 52, who were both released without charge.