Restaurant armed robberies may be linked

9 July 2018, 12:56 | Updated: 9 July 2018, 12:59

The Police are appealing for information following a series of robberies in Merseyside that detectives are treating as linked in which knives and hammers have been used to threaten staff at restaurants and bars.

They've released CCTV of three men they want to trace.

In the latest incident, at 12.55am on Saturday (7 July) three males with their faces covered reportedly forced their way into the Tipsy Monkey restaurant on Liverpool Road. The men, who are believed to have been armed with bladed weapons, threatened staff before making off with a quantity of cash.

It was reported Grilla on Allerton Road had been targeted by a group of three males shortly after 11.50pm on Thursday 5 July. The males were carrying a machete and knives and wearing dark clothes, with their faces covered. They stole cash and keys.

At around 12.30am on 16 June it was reported three males entered Al Dente restaurant on Lark Lane carrying hammers, breaking the glass doors to force entry to the premises. The offenders took a till containing a large quantity of cash.

On 27 June, a report was received at around 10.10pm that three males carrying knives and a hammer and in dark clothing and with faces covered entered Frankie and Benny’s at Edge Lane, stealing cash.

On Sunday 1 July, a report was received that a robbery had taken place at the Fulwood Arms on Aigburth Road, as it was being closed shortly before 11pm. Three men wearing black and with their faces covered entered the premises carrying hammers and machetes stole a large quantity of cash.

In each case, three offenders wearing dark-coloured clothing, with their faces covered and carrying knives and/or hammers have entered premises, often through unlocked doors as venues were closing for the day.

No-one has been injured in the incidents, but a number of people have been left extremely shaken by their experiences.

Witness and CCTV enquiries are ongoing for each incident and officers are patrolling the area of Aigburth, Allerton, Mossley Hill and Crosby to reassurance the local business community.

Detective Inspector Paul Speight said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who recognises the clothing of the males pictured in the CCTV still, or who has any information about the incident that have taken place in recent weeks.

“We would appeal to anyone who has seen a small group of males acting suspiciously in the areas of Aigburth, Allerton and Mossley Hill late in the evening to come forward and allow us to carry out a full and comprehensive investigation. To carry any weapon in a public place is incredibly reckless and thankfully it has not resulted in serious injury on any of these occasions.

"However, the use of knives to threaten people is cowardly and an extremely frightening experience for the victim.

"I would urge any local businesses who experiences this type of incident to call 999 and we can take immediate action to identify the people responsible and put them before the courts, to ensure that businesses are protected from any type of threat these offender may pose."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 18200140338 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.