'Saddam Hussein' robber strikes again

A man with a gun caught on CCTV in the robbery at Wooburn Green

An armed robber wearing a Saddam Hussein mask is believed to have struck three times, stealing thousands of pounds.

Thames Valley Police believe the man is part of a gang which was also behind an attack in Buckinghamshire in which a gun was pointed at a four-year-old girl and a man assaulted with a baseball bat.

Detectives said three armed robberies have taken place in the High Wycombe area between 30 October and 5 November by men wearing masks and on each occasion a shop was the target.

In each attack similar weapons were used and on two of the occasions one of the offenders wore a Saddam Hussein mask.

Detective Inspector Philip Chandler said: "These criminals must be caught before someone is seriously hurt.

"I believe that they may be locally-based and we would like to hear from anyone with any information about this gang or who may have been in any of the areas at the time of the robberies".

The first robbery took place on Thursday 30 October at about 1650 GMT at a One Stop convenience store on The Green, Wooburn Green and was carried out by three men in balaclavas.

One of the robbers points a gun at a young girl

Police said the robbers burst into the shop and one of the men pointed a gun at a four-year-old girl while another hit a shop assistant on the head with a baseball bat.

They stole about £4,000 and escaped in a car drive by a fourth man.

A man wearing a Saddam Hussein mask was involved in a second robbery where he threatened a member of staff at Threshers in Chequers Parade, Prestwood, with a gun and a knife.

The gang escaped with the contents from the till on Monday 3 November at about 2150 GMT.

The Saddam Hussein mask was seen again at the Spar shop, Great Missenden Road, Great Kingshill, on Wednesday.

The incident happened at 1930 GMT when three men, two of whom were wearing woolly hats and scarves around their face, demanded cash.

Two men were armed with baseball bats and the man wearing the Saddam Hussein mask carried a knife.