An investigation has been launched following six commercial robberies which occurred in Blackpool over the weekend.



Police have released several CCTV images as part of the investigation and are now asking for the public’s help identifying the man pictured in connection with incidents.

The first incident occurred shortly before 7.15pm on Friday (March 10th) at the Ladbrokes bookmakers on Whitegate Drive. A male offender entered the store brandishing a knife before climbing over the desk and stealing £180 from the till. He made off on foot up Reads Avenue.

The second incident occurred at a branch of Ladbrokes on Coronation Street, at around 8.10pm on Saturday. A male offender entered the store, climbed over the counter and threatened the member of staff with a knife before making off with approximately £100 from the till.

The third robbery occurred at the Corner Shop on Palatine Road at approximately 12.30pm on Sunday. Two men entered the store with one brandishing a large hammer which was used to threaten a lone female staff member. The offenders removed the entire till and left the store making off with cash takings.

The fourth incident occurred at 8.35pm on Sunday at the One Stop Store on Caunce Street. A man entered the shop and threatened a member of staff with a knife before attempting to get money out of the till. He was unable to access the register and made off empty-handed.

A short time later, at around 8.59pm, an offender entered Grosvenor Stores on Church Street, where he produced a knife and threatened a member of staff. He demanded money and jumped onto the counter, before jumping back down and making off empty-handed.

The final incident occurred at around 9.38pm at Premier Stores on Dickson Road, when an offender entered the store with a knife in his hand. He walked behind the cash desk, pushed the member of staff over and pointed the knife at her. He took around £100 from the till and made off.

The six incidents are currently being treated as linked.

Sergeant Stuart Reid, from Blackpool CID, said: “Between Friday evening and Sunday evening six shops were targeted with increasing threats of violence, and in each incident members of staff present have been left understandably traumatised.

“We would now like to speak to anybody with information which could help with our enquiries and in particular would like information which could help us identify the man in the CCTV images.

“We believe the offenders are still in possession of the knife and hammer used in the robberies so we would urge members of the public, for their own safety, not to approach either of them.

“However we would like to reassure residents and business owners that we are doing everything we can to establish exactly what occurred and identify those responsible. Extensive enquiries continue and we have stepped up patrols in the area in order to provide reassurance"

The offenders are both described as white. One is thought to be in his mid to late 20s, around 5ft 6ins tall, of slim build, wearing dark sports clothing and trainers. He spoke with a Liverpudlian accent.

The second man is described as being slightly taller than the first man, aged in his early to mid-20s and wearing a blue and grey jacket and sports clothing.

Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log number 1338 of March 12th.