Sixth gang raid on city bookies

DETECTIVES investigating a raid on a Sneinton bookmakers believe it could be linked with a series of others across the city.

Three men escaped with cash from Coral in Sneinton Dale at 8.40pm on Tuesday, December 23.

Police said staff locked themselves in a back room and no one was hurt.

The robbers, one of whom had a scarf covering his face, are believed to have forced a glass security screen separating counter staff from customers, and climbed over.

All three raiders were black and one was wearing a dark-coloured leather hooded jacket.

Detectives are still investigating five other raids or attempted raids at branches of Coral and Ladbrokes in Nottingham since November 17 this year.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Luke said: "This latest raid and the others have had a crew of three working together.

"There could be one ringleader involved in all of them accompanied by a different permutation of a number of others.

"The latest raid, like the others, took place later in the day which adds to the possibility of a link."

Earlier this month, the Post published CCTV pictures of masked gunmen who burst into the Ladbrokes in Nottingham Road, Old Basford, at around 6.40pm on November 17 before escaping with cash.

DCI Luke said no one had been arrested for any of the raids. Ladbrokes has already stepped up security at all its Nottingham branches and a £10,000 reward is being offered by the Association of British Bookmakers for information that could lead to the conviction of any of the raiders.

DCI Luke added: "Some raids had firearms and knives involved, others did not. They are all different in that respect."

There is no evidence of any weapons being used in the latest raid.

Anyone with information on this raid or any of the others is asked to call Notts Police on 0115 967 0999 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

guy.woodford@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk