“Have you ever been shot?” were the chilling words spoken to a 12-year-old boy by a robber in Catsbrook Road.
The boy was with a 21-year-old woman when they were approached by three teenagers in a park at about 4pm on August 30. The offenders flashed something at the boy that appeared to be part of a gun in a bag, before forcing the boy to hand over his mobile phone and money.
They gave him the phone back but took his hat and the woman’s bike, then forced them to walk down an alley and stay there until the offenders had left the scene.
The robbers are described as two 15-year-olds of an Asian appearance and one 15-year-old black male.
Two hours later, in a playing field in Westmoreland Avenue, a 13-year-old boy and his four friends were approached by three teenagers who demanded they hand over their mobile phones.
The group refused but were searched by the offenders who took an Apple iPhone 4 from one of the boys then left the scene on two bikes.
All three offenders are described as 15-year-old black youths.
Det Con Jabbar Khan said: “These robberies happened on the same day, the descriptions of the offenders are very similar and the offenders followed a similar pattern of offending each time. I would appeal to anyone who can identify the people responsible for these robberies to come forward and speak to officers.”
Call Beds Police on 101 with information.