A SECURITY van driver was robbed in a city shopping centre yesterday afternoon.

It is understood the G4S employee was walking back to the vehicle in Between Towns Road, Cowley, from Barclays Bank in Templars Square Shopping Centre when he was set upon.

The robbery occured at 12.15pm and part of the road was closed off for several hours.

Police said a cash box was taken but it was empty.

James O’Connell, manager of estate agents Connells, in Between Towns Road, said the G4S van was parked outside his store.

The 35-year-old said: “It’s disconcerting if a robbery takes place 10ft from our front door, but we have CCTV and have never had any problems.”

Barclays customer Ben Roiser, 35, of Dene Road, said: “People should not be getting robbed. I’d have been scared.

“I don’t think I’d have got involved, it depends if he was armed.”

Thames Valley Police said the unarmed thief ran off with the empty cash box towards Rose Hill. He is described as black, of a large build, 5ft 5ins tall, bearded, and wore a jacket with blue detail and a fisherman hat.

Darren Bowler, operations manager at Templars Cowley Shopping Centre, said: “We are assisting Thames Valley Police with their inquiries. We are reviewing CCTV footage.”

A spokesman from Barclays said: “We are aware there was an incident outside the branch, which remained open.”

The driver was not thought to be hurt in the incident.

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