Police are hunting for knifemen who struck at two convenience stores in the space of eight hours in Uttoxeter in East Staffordshire on Sunday (22).
According to the local reports, the first robbery took place at Tesco Express in Holly Road, Uttoxeter, at 10.40pm. A man entered the store and started threatening workers with a knife while demanding cash. The suspect then fled the scene after stealing several items.
A second raid then took place at the nearby Nisa store on Ashbourne Road in the town during early hours of Monday (23).
A knifeman again threatened staff with a knife after approaching them at the till. He fled emptyhanded from this store.
A force spokesman said: "We have launched an investigation after a robbery and an attempted robbery in Uttoxeter. Just after 10.40pm yesterday, a man demanded money from members of staff inside the Tesco Express on Holly Road.
"The suspect was carrying a kitchen knife. After taking items he left the store. Then today, at around 6.30am we received a report of an attempted robbery at a Nisa store on Ashbourne Road.
"A man went into the shop and approached the till. When challenged by two staff members he threatened them with a knife and left. No-one was injured in either incident. Officers have carried out a number of enquiries as part of our investigation into the incidents.
"We’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, or those with information that can help with our investigation."
Meanwhile, Staffordshire Police's increased activities to target shoplifters this month is reflecting some positive results.
Staffordshire Police stated on Monday (23) that the targeted action saw both special constables and PCs take the lead on identifying and detaining individuals on suspicion of shoplifting offences throughout the district.
In total, goods worth £867.10 have been recovered and returned to affected stores.
Some of the positive results the team achieved include:
- Recovering a total of £287.87-worth of items from a man and a woman found shoplifting from a B&M store
- Detaining a man, with the help of security, and recovering £120.38-worth of stolen items found under his clothing
- Arresting a man for theft from One Stop in Chasetown with property recovered
- Arresting another man over the theft of £143-worth of alcohol
- Issuing two banning orders and recovering £110-worth of property from two different detained men
- Issuing three banning orders to three different women and recovering £208-worth of stolen items.
Officers are also continuing to carry out targeted patrols in areas where more than £500-worth of cleaning equipment was stolen from stores Chasetown, while we also responded to a small number of calls relating to anti-social behaviour and property alarms going off.
Temporary Chief Inspector Paul Finlayson, Commander of Lichfield local policing team, said: “I am pleased this plain-clothes operation has been such a success, especially in the lead up to Christmas.
“We are particularly grateful to our community partners including stores’ security staff, business owners and leaders, retail premises and the local authority, who have all supported this action.
“We will continue to run these types of operations across the district to target retail crime throughout 2025.”