Police have issued an urgent appeal for information after two more knife-point robberies in Bedfordshire over the weekend.
This brings the total to eight in the past ten days, three of which happened at the same shop.
On Friday (6 March) at approximately 8.40pm, two men entered a shop on Common Road in Kensworth. They threatened the shop worker with a knife, before stealing money from the till along with cigarettes and alcohol.
Both men had their faces covered, and one man was described as wearing a two tone jacket with the lower part being brown and the upper part of the jacket, including the hood, being yellow.
On Saturday (7 March) at approximately 7.55pm, two men entered a shop in Albert Road. One of the men demanded money from the till and threatened the shop workers with a knife. They also stole an amount of cigarettes and alcohol. This is the third time in just over a week that the shop experienced a robbery.
DI Jackie Dadd said: “It is very concerning that there have been two more knife-point robberies and we are continuing to work hard to identify those responsible.
“We do believe the incidents may be linked and the offenders are potentially dangerous so we are urging staff or business owners not to challenge anyone who threatens them with a weapon, but to call 999 immediately or activate the shop alarm.
“I would also appeal to anyone who has any information as to who may be responsible for these robberies to call police. In particular we’re keen to hear from anyone who may have seen a blue car with a 52 registration plate in the vicinity of both the Kensworth and Albert Road robberies this weekend.
“We currently have addition officers on hand to assist with the investigation and we are continuing to work closely with the community team to ensure public safety and reassure residents and businesses.”
On Tuesday (March 3), at approximately 9.40pm, two offenders entered the same shop on Albert Road and taken a large amount of money from the till and some tobacco. One of the men is described as wearing a green two tone jacket.
At approximately 10.05pm on Saturday (28 February) two men entered a shop on Albert Road, Luton. They threatened the shop worker with a knife before stealing alcohol and cigarettes.
Elsewhere in Bedfordshire, on Sunday, 1 March, at 12.15am, two men stole almost £2,000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol from a shop on the High Street South, Dunstable. Again a knife was used to make threats in the incident.
The men involved in the robbery of the shop on the High Street South were both described as white. One was believed to be approximately 6 feet, slim, and aged 30 – 40. He was described as wearing a beige hooded jacket, blue tracksuit bottoms, trainers and gloves, with a scarf over his lower face. The second man was believed to be approximately 5’8” – 5’10”, stocky, and wearing a blue Nike hoody, with blue tracksuit bottoms and trainers.
Also on Sunday, 1 March, at approximately 6pm, two men entered a shop on Markygate Road in Slip End. The men made threats with a knife but left empty handed.
An hour later at 7pm there was an attempted robbery at a shop on Wellington Street, Luton. Two men threatened the shop worker with a large knife but left the shop empty handed.
At 8pm, two men in masks entered a shop on the High Street, Kensworth, and demanded money while brandishing a knife. Approximately £400 along with a selection of alcohol and cigarettes was stolen.