Thieves steal club takings from barmaid

THREE masked thieves robbed a woman as she left work at a Masonic club by smashing the windows of her car before grabbing a bag of cash.

The victim had just left the Fauldhouse Masonic Club in Bridge Street, where she works at the bar, at 9:30am on Monday with a four-figure sum of money.

The men smashed the windows of her car before making off with the bag in the direction of Greenburn Golf Course.

Two silver Ford Fiestas – one of which was a van-type car with no rear windows – were seen being driven erratically in Fauldhouse and were suspected of being involved in the crime.

One of the vehicles was recovered in Fauldhouse and the other vehicle was later traced in Shotts.

The suspects were all described as wearing hooded tops along with scarves and/or balaclavas.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery, and was due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court yesterday. Inquiries are ongoing to trace the two others.

A police spokesman said: "We want to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw three men acting suspiciously."