Lochee bookmaker robbery prompts police appeal

TAYSIDE Police are hunting an armed robber who fled with more than £100 following a raid at a bookmakers in Dundee.

The man escaped after threatening staff with a bladed weapon at the Betfred shop in High Street in the Lochee area of the city at 9pm on Sunday night.

A force spokesman said: “A man described as being in his 40s, walked into the bookies at about 8.55pm and threatened staff with a weapon before demanding cash. He made off with a three-figure sum of cash, heading left as he exited the High Street betting shop. No one was injured in the incident.”

He added: “Early enquiries confirm that there were people in the street outside Bet Fred and police officers appeal for them to come forward as they may have information useful to enquiries. Officers are in the area carrying out further enquiries and a review of CCTV is ongoing.”

The man being hunted is described as being about 5ft 5 ins tall, with dark coloured wavy hair. He was wearing a red and black coloured baseball cap, a dark-coloured jacket and jeans. He was also wearing a dark-coloured scarf or bandana and carrying a plain blue plastic bag.

Travel agents

Tayside Police are also investigating an attempted armed robbery at a Dundee city centre travel agency this morning. The incident happened at Ramsay World Travel in Crichton Street at about 9.45am.

A man – believed to be in his mid-20s – went into the shop, threatened a member of staff with a weapon and demanded cash.

A force spokesman said: “When he was refused he ran off heading up Nethergate towards Perth Road. No one was injured. as a result of the incident. The suspect is slim and at the time wore a hooded black tracksuit with the hood up and which had orange stripes down the sides. He also wore a cap and dark trainers.”

He added: “There is nothing to indicate any connection between this incident and an armed robbery at Bet Fred in Dundee yesterday, although obviously detectives officers will keep an open mind in this regard.”