A masked robber threatened staff with a suspected firearm and stole drugs and cash from the Oxshott village pharmacy.

He entered Lloyds Pharmacy in High Street shortly after 6.30pm yesterday, and stole prescription drugs and money before escaping toward Oxshott station.

He was white, in his 20s, with blue eyes and was wearing a blue Nike jacket, navy blue jogging bottoms and back trainers and had a black scarf covering his face. No injuries were reported.

There were reports of a helicopter overhead and police cars in High Street, as it was taped off at about 7pm.

Simon Taylor, from the Surrey Hills Butchers, said he had left the shop before the robbery happened so did not see anything.

He was alerted through social media last night and said: “Obviously it’s what everybody is talking about this morning.”

An employee at Clay Hair Salon, opposite the pharmacy, said they were working until about 7.30pm but were only alerted to the situation when they noticed police presence.

She said: “We couldn’t believe that we didn’t actually see. The police presence that made us think what the hell was going on.”

She said police were still there when they closed the salon.

A train was disrupted between Guildford to London as armed police and dogs helped the investigation.

Detective Inspector Clive Vale, from Staines CID, said: “We understand that this is a concerning incident for the community but I would like to reassure the public we are committed to resolving this case.

“We need to hear from anybody who may have seen the person matching the description either before or after the incident. If you were in one of the nearby shops or heading to or from the train station and saw anything suspicious at all please get in touch immediately.”

Officers think there could be a link between this and another robbery at Lloyds Pharmacy in Craddocks Avenue, Ashtead, at 6.45pm on June 2. A man entered the shop and threatened staff with a suspected firearm and made off with prescription drugs towards Ashtead Common.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and is currently in custody but Surrey Police are still appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information for either offence should contact Surrey Police on 101 or report it online at surrey.police.uk quoting reference number 45150048929.

  • Did you see what happened? Get in touch on 020 8722 6368 or ellie.cambridge@london.newsquest.co.uk.