Security van robbed in Tannochside near Uddingston
Police have launched an investigation after an armed robbery on a security van outside a shop in South Lanarkshire.
A masked man brandishing what appeared at be a firearm threatened the security guard outside Scotmid in Old Edinburgh Road, Tannochside, near Uddingston.
Officers were called to the scene at about 08:50 on Friday.
The suspect was said to have escaped with a cassette containing a five-figure sum of cash.
He then made off in a black Vauxhall Astra towards Laburnum Road.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland no firearm was discharged and no-one was injured, but the security officer was badly shaken as a result of the incident.
The man responsible was described as white, of heavy build and was wearing a black ski mask with black trousers and a black anorak.
Car on fire
About 10 minutes later, officers were called to a report of a black Vauxhall Astra on fire in Market Place in Uddingston.
The vehicle has now been removed and will be subject to a full forensic examination.
Det Insp John Lamb said: "We are carrying out extensive inquiries in the local area to establish more details on this crime.
"Officers have been checking CCTV and carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the local area, and I would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious around the times of both of these incidents this morning to come forward as their information may be vital to this inquiry.
"In particular, I would like to trace the occupants of a white car and a white transit van that were both seen near Market Place around the time of the fire this morning. If anyone has information on these vehicles please contact police.
"Around 9am this morning the area would have been busy with people dropping of children at the primary school in Laburnum Road, and I would ask any parents who noticed anything out of the ordinary, or have any details on the vehicles mentioned to contact us."