Police hunting man who robbed Bathgate bookies with a meat cleaver

A man has robbed a bookmakers in Bathgate armed with a meat cleaver.

It happened on hopetoun Street at around 7.20pm on Friday Novermber 2, when a suspect made off with a three-figure sum of cash, as well as the contents of a Scottish Poppy Appeal tin.

He had been previously using a gaming machine within the premises, before he approached a female member of staff behind the counter and threatened her with the knife.

She put cash in a plastic bag before he fled.

The member of staff and a male customer were unharmed as a result of incident.

Police were contacted and officers are now appealing for witnesses.

The suspect is described as a white man in his late twenties to early thirties. He is around 5ft 10” to 6ft in height with a slim build.

He has blue/green eyes that appeared bloodshot and brown greasy hair that was short at the sides and longer on top.

He was wearing a grey wind breaker style jacket, a black scarf, black jogging bottoms and black trainers with white soles. The suspect was also noted to be smelling of cannabis.

Detective Inspector Paul Batten of Livingston CID said: “This was a frightening attack which has left a female member of staff badly upset.

“We are eager to trace the man responsible as soon as possible.

“I would ask anyone who was in the Hopetoun Street area on the evening of Friday 2nd November and saw anything suspicious, to get in touch with us immediately.”

Those with information are asked to contact officers at Livingston CID on 101, quoting incident number 3785 of November 2, or alternatively through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.