Police are appealing for witnesses to a robbery at a branch of Thomas Cook in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, in which the thieves escaped with a large amount of foreign currency.
Maxed men armed with a pickaxe handled lay in wait for staff at the George Street branch early last Monday morning. It is thought they were hiding in the store.
They appeared from a room at the back of the shop and forced two members of staff, a man and a woman, to hand over the cash.
After the robbers tied up their victims they ran out of the back of the shop.
Police describe the men as white, wearing black balaclavas. One wore a dark hooded top with blue jeans and the other a grey hooded top with dark coloured trousers.
Detective Constable Emma Bushell, of Stretford CID, said: "The whole robbery lasted around 15 minutes so the area would have been quite busy with people going to work.
"I am appealing to anyone who may have seen the men leaving the store around 9am, or if there was anyone acting suspiciously in the area prior to the robbery."
Anyone with information can call police on 856 7652 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
By Linsey McNeill
