Police appeal for information over armed robberies in Heybridge

Police investigating a string of armed robberies in Heybridge and Colchester are appealing for information.

Men armed with axes and crowbars robbed East of England Co-op stores in both areas a total of five times between September and January - including three robberies in just over two months in Heybridge - stealing thousands of pounds.

The first incident took place on 1 September at around 9.14pm, when a masked suspect carrying an axe entered a Co-op store on Wood Road, Heybridge, before making off with up to £3,000.

Two people were treated at the scene by paramedics for a cut and shock.

Another Co-op in Heybridge, this time on Lawling Avenue, was targeted on 6 October at around 7.55pm by three men - one armed with a crowbar and another with an axe.

Staff were ordered to hand over cash and cigarettes.

Then, on 13 October, three men robbed items worth up to £4,000 from a Co-op in Colchester, on Old Heath Road, after entering the store shortly before 9pm.

Two of the men were armed.

The Heybridge Co-op on Lawling Avenue was targeted for a second time on 17 November, when three men raided the store shortly after 6.25am.

Two of the men were armed and threatened staff before leaving with cash and cigarettes.

The Colchester Co-op on Old Heath Road was also targeted a second time on 16 January by two armed men, who left the shop with more than £4,000 in cash and more than £1,000 of tobacco after assaulting a member of staff with a crowbar.

PC Alex Plakhtienko, from Essex Police's business crime team, said: "These offences relate to a series of robberies during which violence has been used against staff members and a large quantity of cash and cigarettes were stolen.

"We are progressing a number of lines of enquiry and we have linked each of these incidents.

"We are now appealing to the public who may be able to identify the people pictured.

"I appreciate those who we're seeking to identify have their faces covered, but I would ask people to please look closely at the images to see if you might have any information which could help our investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and cite the following incident numbers, which have been listed chronologically: 42/18587421, 42/220670/21, 42/229698/21, 93 of November 17 and 42/13445/22.

You can also submit a report to Essex Police online or use the live chat function, which is available between 7am and 11pm.

Information can also be submitted anonymously to Crimestoppers or by calling 0800 555111.