Police probe raids link

A series of robberies has prompted police to step up patrols around convenience stores in the Newark area.

Two shops were robbed on Friday night. Police believe the incidents may have been linked.

Officers are investigating whether there are similarities with nine other shop raids in Newark, Sherwood and Bassetlaw since January.

In the latest incidents robbers struck at the One Stop Convenience Store, Fernwood, and the Spar Shop on Farndon Road, Newark.

Three men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas burst in to the One Stop in Ruby’s Avenue, Fernwood, at around 10pm.

Two female shop workers were on duty.

The gang is believed to have been watching the store and waiting for the last customer to leave.

One staff member is said to have pulled the other to the floor.

The door to the till area was kicked in. The door hit one of the women on the head.

The tills were forced open and it is understood between £600 and £800 was taken, together with packs of cigarettes.

One of the men had a short crowbar. It is believed a fourth man was acting as getaway driver at the wheel of a blue van.

The staff members, who pushed a panic button, were said to have been “absolutely terrified” by their ordeal.

At 10.20pm two men, also wearing balaclavas, entered the Spar on Farndon Road.

A substance was sprayed into the face of a woman working in the store.

Cash was stolen from the till along with the staff member’s purse. The woman was not seriously injured.

The first man was dark skinned, about 6ft 1ins tall, of stocky build and aged between 25 and 28. He wore dark clothes and white trainers. The second man, also dark skinned, was slim and 18-20 years old. He also wore dark clothes.

Mr Geoff Hallam, the managing director of Tate’s Ltd, owners of the Spar shop, said: “We would like to offer a substantial reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any of those responsible.

“The staff were very shaken by what happened and all the support that they need, including counselling should they require it, is available to them.”

Detective Inspector Dave Sinclair said police patrols were being increased and shop owners were receiving security advice in light of the offences.

He said: “We are examining the possibility that these robberies are linked, as it is extremely unusual to have two incidents like this in such a short space of time.

“Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in either robbery and we are now working to identify and arrest the offenders.

“We believe there may have been a blue van involved in one or both of these incidents, and I would ask anyone who saw a similar vehicle in the vicinity of either robbery to contact detectives.

“We are also re-examining evidence from the previous robberies to see if the modus operandi is similar and whether there are links with any of these offences too.”

In addition to the two robberies in Newark, there have been two in Southwell, one in Bilsthorpe, one in Farnsfield, one in Lowdham and four in Worksop.

Witnesses to Friday’s robberies, or anyone with information about them should contact Newark CID on 0300 300 9999, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.