Having been shot at for real in a previous career I can understand how those innocents caught up in this mess would feel.  I had the chance to shoot back they didn't. €30.K I hope they just handed it over with no fuss.

OK .... I have also been involved on the wrong side of an armed robbery. It happened at the branch of Natwest in Silvertown, East end of London in 1992. I was a witness as I was in the bank at the time they crew burst in with shotguns etc.

I have no idea how much was taken nor do I care. The attitude of the staff at that time was impeccable, very cool and of course they have all been rigorously trained for such situations. Regards us customers, well the shared response after the event was along the lines of "Phew, no-one got hurt but didn't everyone do well" and was actually quite exciting.

So ... I stand by my comment about how times like this are the only times that Joe Bloggs can have a go at the banks. Very few of us would do so and it is such a rare occurrence these days that it causes headline news, not like in the "old days"".

Perhaps this story has now run it's own course and it's time to move on?

PS ... I would like to earn €3000 per year from carobs, where do I apply?