Armed robberies could be linked

Three armed robberies which took place in Darlington town centre could be linked, according to detectives.

A man believed to be carrying a handgun held up a 28-year-old man who had just left a bank on Bondgate on Monday, and stole several hundred pounds.

An hour later a man with a handgun forced staff at the Geneva Road post office to hand over money.

Police said the incidents could also be linked to a knifepoint robbery in the car park of Sainsbury's on 9 January.

A man in his 50s was approached in the shop car park having just used a cash machine and forced by a man with a knife to drive to another and withdraw several hundred pounds.

More evidence

In all three incidents the offender has been described as local, aged in his late 20s, slim and short, with mousey coloured hair and a pale complexion.

Det Sgt Sean Jackson said: "The description of the suspect in each of these cases is very similar, but until we have more evidence I cannot rule out the possibility they may have been carried out by different men.

"The robberies on Monday took place at times when there will have been plenty of people around and I am urging anyone who has not yet come forward to do so."