Appeal following three robbery offences in Rochdale

Detectives in Rochdale are appealing for witnesses following a robbery and two attempted robberies on the same day.

A petrol station, newsagents and bookmakers were targeted yesterday (Wednesday 24 November 2010).

At about 3.15am, a man approached the Whitworth Road Service Station and pointed a handgun and a carrier bag through the night service hatch, demanding cash.

The cashier, a 50-year-old man, invited the offender inside but the offender then ran off empty handed.

The suspect is described as being a white man, about 30-years-old, 5ft 6in tall and of slim build. He had short shaven hair and zipped up his black coat to cover the lower half of his face.

At about 5.15pm, two men, armed with a metal bar and a handgun, went into the Hamer newsagents on Halifax Road in Smallbridge.

They threatened the cashier, a 45-year-old man, and demanded cash from him. The victim handed over money from the tills and the pair left, running away towards Red Lane.

Both offenders were white men, about 18-years-old, 5ft 4in tall and of medium build. The man carrying the metal bar was wearing a light coloured top and had a hood covering his face.

The man carrying the gun was wearing a dark coloured top which covered his face, and was also wearing black gloves.

At 8.25pm, a man was banging on the door of the Ladbrokes bookmakers on Church Street in Littleborough.

The branch was open but due to how late it was the staff had the door on a catch.

The offender continued to bang at the door with a long object, but despite causing damage to the door and windows, he ran off empty handed towards Rochdale.

He is described as being a white man, about 5ft 4in tall and of medium build. He was wearing a dark grey hooded top and covered his face with a scarf.

Detective Constable Dave Gill said: "While nobody was hurt, and on two occasions no cash was stolen, each of these incidents was distressing for the victims.

"We are keeping an open mind as to whether these incidents are in any way connected.

"We are also working with detectives in Lancashire following an armed robbery in Whitworth yesterday to see if there is any information that we can share.

"We would like to reassure the residents of Rochdale that it is very rare that we come across three robbery offences in one day, and at the end of the last financial year robbery went down 15% in Greater Manchester compared to the previous 12 months."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4646 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.