Reward increased after further shop robbery

Officers say they are linking a knifepoint robbery in a Derbyshire town with a spate of similar raids in the county earlier this year.

Police said a "significant" amount of cash was taken from a Co-op store in Blenheim Road, Ashbourne, at about 22:30 GMT on 8 December by a man with a hooded top pulled tight around his face.

It follows seven previous robberies in Derby and Ilkeston between 5 October and 7 November.

Charity Crimestoppers has now increased its reward for information leading to a conviction from £1,000 to £3,000.

Derbyshire Police said no-one was hurt in the most recent robbery but they believed the raids were linked.

Footage from some of the previous robberies has been shared by the force, including one video showing a shopkeeper fighting off a robber with a mop.

Lydia Patsalides, East Midlands regional manager at Crimestoppers, said: "It is clear that the person responsible for these crimes has no thought whatsoever for his victims – subjecting them to what can only be described as a terrifying series of incidents.

"I am sure that there are people out there who have information about this crime and the person responsible and I would urge anyone who has any information to come forward to speak to our charity 100% anonymously."

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