£1,000 reward offered after string of knifepoint robberies
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A £1,000 reward is being offered after a series of knifepoint robberies in the south of the county.
Significant amounts of cash have been stolen from shops in Derby and Ilkeston during seven robberies in recent weeks.
The offender in each of the incidents has been armed with a knife but has not harmed anyone physically during any of the incidents.
Now independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information they exclusively receive which significantly assists officers in their investigation.
Chief Inspector Chris Thornhill said: “These offences have understandably caused concern and a team of detectives are following a number of lines of enquiry in an effort to bring the man responsible to justice.
“I know there are people in the community who know who this man is – and they know that the right thing to do is to come forward.
“We have thankfully seen nobody physically hurt in the incidents so far, but any person who is willing to arm themselves with a knife is putting our community at serious risk.
“We are increasing both our uniformed and plain clothes patrols in the city – as well as armed response officers including potential targets as part of their patrol strategies.
“I would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward as soon as possible.”
The first three incidents took place on October 5:
Location: Best One shop in Roosevelt Avenue, Derby
Date and Time: 5 October between 6pm and 6:26pm
Description of offender: Man wearing black jogging bottoms and distinctive orange hooded top and carrying a small kitchen knife.
Location: Shop Smart in Reginald Road, Derby
Date and Time: 5 October between 7.45pm and 8.31pm
Description of offender: Man wearing orange jumper and a balaclava covering his face.
Location: Wilmorton Stores, Post Office, London Road, Derby
Date and Time: 5 October at 9:32pm
Description of offender: Wearing a bright orange hooded top, black trousers and blue and white Converse trainers and a grey glove on his left hand.
The following day (6 October) another shop was targeted:
Location: Co-op, Lexington Road, Derby
Date and Time: 6 October between 9.47pm and 22:26
Description of offender: Black hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms, white and black Nike trainers and navy-blue mask on his face.
Then, on 14 October, a fifth shop was robbed, this time in Ilkeston:
Location: Co-op in Summerfields Way South, Ilkeston
Date and Time: 14 October between 9.50pm and 10:03pm
Description of offender: Wearing a grey coat, navy jacket, white cap, black trousers, and black shoes. Also wearing a face covering and gloves.
There was then a gap of three weeks to the next two incidents in Derby which took place this week:
Location: T&E Masons Newsagents, Lime Grove, Chaddesden, Derby
Date and Time: 6 November at 4.40pm.
Description of offender: Wearing a black jacket over a navy hoody, white cap, black tracksuit trousers, black trainers and a snood covering his face.
Location: Co-op, Smalley Drive, Oakwood, Derby
Date and Time: 7 November at 9:58pm and 10.04pm.
Description of offender: Wearing dark joggers, a grey jacket with a navy hood up, a dark cap and wearing a face covering.
Officers want to hear from anyone who was in any of the areas at the times when the incidents occurred – as well as anyone with CCTV that covers the areas or have dashcam from cars that may have been in the area at the times mentioned above.
If you have any information, please contact us using any of the below methods, including reference 24000595055:
- Website– We have crime reporting tools on our website: use our online contact form
- Facebook– send us a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page
- X (Twitter) – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact
- Phone – call us on 101
To anonymously contact independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.