A £10,000 reward has been put up for a man wanted for a series of armed robberies in Northamptonshire and across the country.
The Association of British Bookmakers has offered the reward today for any information which will lead to the successful arrest and prosecution of the armed robber.
The robber has targeted bookmakers in Northampton with a gun is believed to also be behind raids in Hertfordshire, Sussex and Leicestershire.
Detectives this week released images, taken from CCTV cameras in bookmakers across the UK. The images show an armed robber who is believed to have threatened staff, often armed with a gun.
The robberies span a distance of more than 100 miles.
Northamptonshire Police said officers in four counties have so far connected at least eight offences between February and March this year.
The man is wanted for raids on the Betfred shop, in Kettering Road, and Ladbrokes, in Fish Street, both in Northampton, last month.
He is also believed to be behind raids in Wellingborough and Kettering.
And police say he now also believed to have raided a Ladbrokes and a William Hill, in Crawley, Sussex, a Ladbrokes, in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, as well as a Ladbrokes, in Leicester, most recently, on Wednesday, March 6.
The following offences are believed to have been committed by the same man:
Wednesday, February 13 – Ladbrokes, Midland Road, Wellingborough.
The offender entered the shop at around 6.55pm, armed with what is believed to have been a gun. He handed the cashier a plastic bag and demanded cash. He left with a quantity of cash.
Saturday, February 16 – Betfred, Kettering Road, Northampton.
An offender entered the shop at around 6.30pm, threw a bag at the cashier and demanded money. He indicated that he had a weapon. The shop assistant replied that she didn’t have any money and immediately went to the cubicle door to ensure it was locked. At this point he left the shop.
Saturday, February 16 – Ladbrokes, Fish Street, Northampton.
The offender entered the shop at around 7.00pm, threatened staff with what appeared to be a gun, handed the cashier a bag and demanded money. The staff handed over a small quantity of cash and he left the shop.
Monday, February 18 – William Hill, The Boulevard, Crawley, Sussex.
The offender entered the shop at around 7.15pm, placed a bag on the counter and demanded money. He appeared to be holding a gun. The assistant put money in the bag and he left the shop.
Thursday, February 21 – Betfred, Dalkeith Place, Kettering.
The offender entered the shop at around 8.30pm, handed the cashier a white carrier bag with a Poundland logo on it and demanded money. He showed the cashier a gun he was holding and left the shop with a quantity of cash.
Saturday, February 23 – Ladbrokes, Harding Place, Harpenden.
The offender entered the shop at around 8.45pm, handed the cashier a white carrier bag and demanded money. He left the shop with a quantity of cash.
Wednesday, February 27 – Ladbrokes, Broadwalk, Crawley.
The offender entered the shop at around 7.45pm, handed the cashier a white carrier bag and demanded money. He showed the cashier a gun and left the shop with a quantity of cash.
Wednesday, March 6 – Ladbrokes, Gipsy Lane, Leicester.
The offender entered the shop at around 1.40pm, handed the cashier a carrier bag and demanded money. He showed the cashier what was believed to be a gun and left the shop with a quantity of cash
Detective Inspector Mark Pattison, from Northamptonshire Police, said: “This reward has been offered to help encourage anyone who may have any information about this man to come forward.
“We would urge him, or anyone who recognises him, to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 and quote Operation Needle.
“Thankfully, no-one was hurt in any of these incidents, however they have been extremely traumatic for the cashiers and the businesses have lost money.
“We are working closely with the other forces where we believe the offences have been committed by the same man and are confident that someone has information that can help.”
The man is described as black, between 5ft 5ins and 6ft, in his late 30s or early 40s, and has been seen wearing a black hooded top in seven of the eight offences and a grey hooded top in one of the offences
He has also been seen wearing a black hat with a scarf covering his face and white trainers.