A boy was robbed of his coat and threatened by an armed gang at Lakeside Shopping Centre.

Officers were called to the incident shortly after 4.30pm yesterday, after the teenage boy was robbed by a group of people, some of whom had knives. 

During the incident, the boy was threatened and his coat was taken and police say he was not injured. 

Essex Police says officers were able to quickly identify a group of people and arrest six people.

That group was searched and subsequently arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. 

Those arrested, six boys aged between 13 and 15, remain in custody this morning. 

READ MORE >>>

Superintendent Timothy Tubbs said: “We’re proud of the partnership we have with Lakeside, and it was, in part, that relationship which allowed officers to quickly identify a group of interest and subsequently make six arrests.

“Thankfully, in this instance there were no serious injuries but I would say to anyone who is intent on going to Lakeside, or indeed the Thurrock district, to commit crime, you are not welcome here. If you do commit crime, you’ll be arrested.”