Armed robber holds up shops

3:40pm Friday 16th May 2008

A ROBBER held up a newsagent worker at knife point and grabbed £50 from the till - just 20 minutes after a failed attempt at another shop.

The suspect, in his twenties, demanded money from staff at the Londis, in High Road, Pitsea, indicating he had a knife.

Two shop assistants told the man to leave and a scuffle ensued, which resulted in one member of staff ending up on the ground and suffering cuts to both arms.

The man left the shop empty-handed and police believe he then moved onto Candyland newsagents, in Chalvedon Square.

There he threatened a 58-year-old male shop assistant with a four-inch blade, before taking the cash from the till.

Anyone with information on the robberies, which happened at 5.50pm and 6.10pm yesterday evening, should contact Basildon Police Station on 0300 3334444.

Read more in Monday's Echo.