Midnight Hammer Heist at Tesco Petrol Station Ends in Arrest
Masked man smashes window, robs staff at gunpoint
Just after midnight on 14 December, staff at the Tesco petrol station in Durrington had finished their shift, locked up, and set the alarm. As they crossed the car park to their car, an unknown man suddenly smashed the driver’s side window with a hammer.
He then shoved a gun in the driver’s face, demanding their personal belongings and ordering them out of the vehicle.
Alarm forced off, cash and cigarettes stolen
The armed thug forced the victims back inside the petrol station to disable the alarm. He loaded up two ‘bag for life’ bags with cash and cigarettes before fleeing the scene.
What he didn’t know: the stolen cash was fitted with a tracker, which police used to track the loot straight to a house on Daisy Road nearby.
Suspect caught red-handed with goods and fake gun
Police raided the property to find the stolen bags, clothing matching the culprit’s description, and a gas-powered air pistol hidden in a wall cavity under the eaves. A black balaclava was seized from a vehicle parked outside.
Darren Burdfield, 39, a builder from Barnet Way, Worthing, was arrested at the address and charged with robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to intimidate.
Quick justice: five years for violent robbery
At Lewes Crown Court on 14 January—exactly one month after the crime—Burdfield was sentenced to five years behind bars.
Chief Inspector Sarah Leadbeatter said: “This robbery happened right in the heart of a busy residential area, causing fear in the local community. Thankfully, we quickly caught the offender and secured the evidence for prosecution.”
“I commend the bravery of the victims who, although shaken, were not seriously hurt. We urge everyone to stay vigilant. Report anything suspicious online or call 101. In emergency, dial 999 immediately.”
