Machete Wielding Thieves Target Brummy Bingo Hall

A Birmingham bingo hall has hit the headlines after two men, armed with machetes stormed the building looking for cash. Terrified staff members were threatened by the two men and forced to open a safe before making off with a large amount of cash. Staff members at Castle Bingo in Weoley Castle, Barnes Hill, have been left shaken by the incident.

The two-armed robbers managed to flee the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash and we understand the robbery took place shortly after the bingo session had finished at approximately 10pm. By this time, the majority of players will have left the building but not everyone will have.

Gaming terminals remain open to members until closing time which is 11pm, meaning the thieves were brazen enough to attack the popular bingo venue when there were still customers inside! Part of the Castle Bingo family since 2012, Barnes Hill is a premier choice for people looking to play bingo games in Birmingham, making it all the more shocking.

Sickening Attack

In a statement, a West Midlands Police spokeswoman told Birmingham Live: "We were called to reports of an armed robbery at Castle Bingo on Barnes Hill, Birmingham at around 10pm on Thursday (3 September). Two men armed with machetes threatened staff and pulled them into an office. Two members of staff in the cash office, were forced to hand over a large amount of cash from the safe. Fortunately, none of the workers were injured, but understandably have been left shaken by this frightening incident."

The manager of the club, Jenny Bishton, who joined as the company’s catering supervisor back in 2012 has yet to comment on what police are calling a “frightening incident.” Facebook is still very much business as usual with recent posts detailing big value for money gaming sessions. Every Monday afternoon this month, the club are paying out 10x £100 houses and sessions will cost just £10.

Some of the best bingo package deals include evening sessions for £15 with added extras to include jackpot links and the late session. Plus, morning bingo will cost just £5. And, each session features the National Bingo Game jackpot where calling in 16 numbers (or less) will net you an additional £50K in real cash!

Despite the upbeat social media posts, investigations are still very much underway and if you were there or have any information that could assist the police with their enquiries, you are being urged to call 101 quoting reference number 20BW/211630G/20.

Source: “Armed Robbers Wield Machetes at Castle Bingo in Weoley Castle – and Flee with Large Quantity of Cash”. Birmingham Live. September 5, 2020.