More terror as THIRD store hit in knife raid
ANOTHER shopkeeper has been threatened at knifepoint as a masked man snatched hundreds of pounds from an off licence.
The Mr Booze in Accrington is the third off licence to be held up at knifepoint in three weeks. The offender entered the store on Haywood Road armed with two kitchen knives at around 9.05pm on Thursday, October 26.
The man then threatened the 54-year-old shopkeeper before snatching £900 from the till and fleeing towards East Crescent. The victim was unharmed but “very shaken”.
Described as a white male, 5ft 8in tall and of medium build, the thief was wearing a black jacket with blue toggles with the hood up. He also had a blue scarf covering his face and was wearing black, stone grey jeans with yellow, possibly brown stitching on the pockets as well as black pumps. Detectives are appealing for information and are urging anyone who recognises the man pictured to contact police.
Det Con Shazia Sadiq, of Lancashire Police, said: “We have launched an investigation following a robbery in Accrington.
“The incident has left the victim very shaken and upset and we want to find the person responsible as soon as possible.
“The knives used include a black handled five-inch blade, as well as a second, blue handled knife, four inches long.”
Police cannot say at this stage whether the robbery is linked to two previous incidents.
A masked man armed with two knives demanded money from the Bargain Booze store on Whalley Road in Accrington, on October 21, but left empty handed. That came after a masked man armed with a kitchen knife made off with hundreds of pounds from the Bargain Booze on Union Road in Oswaldtwistle on October 8. No arrests have been made in connection with any of the incidents.
Accrington Coun Tony Dobson said it was a “very concerning” trend. He said: “Over a number of years, pre-2017, serious crime has been relatively low in the borough. It is worrying to see violent crime. I would call on the community to provide any information. There are relatives, family members and friends who may notice if someone has suddenly come into a lot of money, for example.”
Contact police on 101 quoting crime reference ED1717828.