Police release CCTV images in bid to foil armed robber

Published on Tuesday 14 February 2012 12:06

DETECTIVES have released a series of CCTV images in the hunt for a gun-wielding armed robber who has struck at a string of city bookmakers and off-licences.

The robber is being linked to seven gunpoint hold-ups in the Capital over four months, prompting a dedicated squad of officers to be formed to catch him.

Officers hope the security camera images may provide a vital breakthrough if members of the public recognise the clothes worn by the suspect.

Witness descriptions following each robbery were similar, with the man described as being 5ft 6in to 6ft tall with an athletic build. The robber has typically worn dark trousers and a dark jacket, as well as a scarf or balaclava.

Between June and October, three off-licences in Dalry Road, Melville Drive and North West Circus Place were targeted, along with four bookmakers in Leith Walk, West Maitland Street, Lothian Road and Home Street.

In each case, a robber pulled out a handgun and demanded cash and, in at least one, he was also armed with a meat cleaver.

Detective Inspector Dave Pinkney said: “We’re hoping that someone might recognise the clothing being worn. Some of the clothing is quite distinctive, like the white hat and the backpack.

“We cannot say for definite that it’s the same person involved. There are a lot of similarities between the incidents and descriptions although there are also some differences. There may be two or even three different people involved.

“We have not had an incident since October so it’s possible they may be serving a sentence for another crime. Or they have moved away from the area.

“There was approximately a six-week gap between the robberies in June and those in August and then roughly another six-week gap [before] the last incident, which happened in October.

“If anyone has suspicions about a potential suspect then they should contact police so we can eliminate them from our inquiries.”

Detectives believed the masked man may have been quickly changing his clothes after a heist in a bid to evade capture.

Police enlisted the help of city businesses to report any suspicious activity near their premises, particularly between 8pm and 10pm when the robber has repeatedly struck.

But officers warned members of the public and shop staff not to approach the suspect, who was considered highly dangerous, while extra police patrols were launched in the city centre.

STORES THAT WERE HIT

Where the robberies took place:

• Appellation Wines, Dalry Road, June 2

• Meadows Wine, Melville Drive, June 3

• Spirited Wines, North West Circus Place, June 13

• William Hill, Leith Walk, August 3

• Ladbrokes, West Maitland Street, August 12

• William Hill, Lothian Road, August 29

• Ladbrokes, Home Street, October 22

Related Articles

• Police test gun for link to quick-change shop raider

  POLICE hunting for the “quick-change” armed robber who held up a string of bookies and off-licences in the Capital have seized a firearm found in a search of a Restalrig flat.

  0 Comments

• Squad on trail of quick-change artist after six robberies

  DETECTIVES are hunting a “quick change” armed robber suspected of six gunpoint robberies of bookmakers and off-licences in the Capital in just two months.

  0 Comments

• Poetic justice: Killer wrote sick verses to lover she shot

  THEY read like the naive scribblings of a love-struck teenager in their almost touching simplicity.

  0 Comments

• Manager's terror as armed pair rob store

  THE owner of an off-licence today described her terror at being held up by a pair of armed robbers.

  0 Comments

• Police tell off-licences: staff must not work on their own

  DETECTIVES today warned staff at city off-licences not to work alone while the hunt continues for an armed robber suspected of holding up three shops at gunpoint during the last two weeks.

  0 Comments

Comments

There are 7 comments to this article

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

7

Tartancult

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:50 PM

"Police release CCTV images in bid to foil armed robber " ----------------------Use handcuffs lads, foil isn't strong enough.

• Report Unsuitable

6

Snoopy1

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 05:15 PM

One thing i noticed is he is left handed,i think it could be Dale Robertson the left handed draw,that is the name that springs to mind,but i think that he is dead,so that rules him out,also he worked for "Wells Fargo",but he did wear all black clothes, and he also loved horses, maybe that is the reason he is in the bookies,one never knows does one,that might be the reason somebody has nicked his horse tied up outside the bookies,i hope that gives the boys in blue somthing to go on,sorry to hear that mounted section is being disbanded,this is where a horse would come in handy,if they have to form a possy,to catch the bad guy.

• Report Unsuitable

5

Leamington Lift Bridge

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:36 PM

Joke, its not me Sorry officers

• Report Unsuitable

4

John0001

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:35 PM

Network video recorder for security cameras: http:www.ipcorder.comenshowroom

• Report Unsuitable

3

Fartar

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 02:34 PM

#2, you do realise the police are now duty bound to track you down?

• Report Unsuitable

2

Leamington Lift Bridge

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:57 PM

Its me! I am the "Quck-Change Robber"

• Report Unsuitable

1

Account deleted

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:29 PM

Seems to hate ladbrokes and william hill, heshe has probably been turned over at the roulette on the electronic machines!

• Report Unsuitable

Order by:

• Newest first
• |
• Oldest first

Page 1 of 1

• 1
• Show all

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.