Police Link Robberies At Betting Shops
Police have issued CCTV images of two armed robberies at Ladbrokes betting shops in Portsmouth in March.
The two are being linked by police.
The first incident took place at around 5.50pm on Sunday, March 11 at Ladbrokes in Clarendon Road. A man entered the shop with, what appeared to be, knife and threatened a woman member of staff.
The 25-year-old woman was forced to open the safe and hand over money from inside. The man then took the woman’s keys and left the shop, locking up behind him.
The second robbery took place between 8.15 and 8.30pm on Wednesday, March 14 at a branch in Lake Road.
A man entered the shop with, what appeared to be, a knife, took money out of the till and threatened a woman member of staff.
The 46-year-old woman was forced to open the safe and forced to hand over money from inside before the man left.
In both incidents the members of staff were uninjured but left very shaken by what happened.
Det Con Gemma Tullett said: “These incidents were clearly distressing for the members of staff involved. The circumstances of both incidents are very similar and we believe the incidents are linked.
“We would urge anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV images or has any information about these robberies to contact us.”
Police are working with Ladbrokes to review security measures at all branches as a matter of course.
Anyone with information should contact District CID at Fratton police station on 101. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111.
