WEST Mercia Police are issuing a warning to petrol station staff to be on their guard following a number of identical hoax calls made to petrol stations in Worcester claiming to be from the regional area manager.
The caller asked how much money and cigarettes were on the premises and whether it was possible to access the safe, although nothing has been handed over in either of the incidents.
Two similar cases have been reported by Gloucestershire Police in Prestbury Road Cheltenham, and in one of the incidents an alleged taxi took cigarettes from the filling station to a location in Common Lane, Washwood Heath, Birmingham.
Detective Constable Debbie Whitehead said: “We would urge staff to guard against suspicious calls of this nature and not carry out the instructions given.
“In case of doubt phone 101, and anyone with information about these particular incidents should quote incident numbers 794S 160219 and 161S 170219 for Worcestershire, and 20190211-0019 for Gloucestershire.
“Alternatively, you can give information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.”