Three Men Sought Following Two Attempted Convenience Store Robberies in Wrexham

Police are appealing for information after three men, one armed with a hammer and a second with a knife, attempted to rob two shops in the Wrexham area yesterday.

The first incident took place at around 7.50am on Sunday 12th February at the McColl’s newsagents in Rhosnesni Lane, Wrexham.

One male, wearing a black baseball cap, black balaclava, dark tracksuit bottoms with white stripes and a scarf over his face and another male, wearing a grey hoodie and blue jeans, tried to smash their way through the locked front door while staff were setting up for the day.

They failed to gain entry and threatened a delivery driver who confronted them, before making off in a red Fiat car being driven by a third offender who had stayed in the vehicle.

The car had been reported stolen from nearby Ffordd Dyfed Wrexham earlier yesterday morning.

*OBSERVATIONS* RED FIAT 500s 1242cc stolen over night in a car key burglary REG: CX14 YHY please if you see this vehicle (1/3) @wrexham pic.twitter.com/PtDmzHwOqI

— PC Thomas Hough (@NWPThomasHough) February 12, 2017

(3/3) believed to be in the @wrexham area, the vehicle may be parked up, taken at approx 05.00hrs from FFORDD DYFED area, @NWPolice pic.twitter.com/il8DPjoTZ1

— PC Thomas Hough (@NWPThomasHough) February 12, 2017

The offenders made their way to Gresford where they entered the Spar Shop on Chester Road.

Two of the men, one brandishing a knife and the other a hammer, threatened staff and demanded the contents of the safe.

However, staff had no access to the safe and the men fled empty-handed when the alarm sounded.

The stolen Fiat was abandoned at the Beeches Premier Inn on Chester Road a short while later and the three offenders were seen leaving in a white car.

@wrexham @NWPolice below tweets, the vehicle has been found and recovered, many thanks.

— PC Thomas Hough (@NWPThomasHough) February 12, 2017

DCI Simon Williams said; “Fortunately no one was hurt in either incident. There have been a number of audacious robberies at newsagents and off-licences in the Wrexham area in recent weeks and we are keeping an open mind about whether they are all linked, though some clearly are.

“I would like to reassure the public and businesses that we have a dedicated team of officers carrying out house to house enquiries and who are working closely with our forensics team to help us track down these offenders.

“We are also offering safety advice to businesses such as newsagents and off licences.

“Armed robbery is a serious offence. There will be people in our community who will know who is committing these offences, or who will have information which could assist our investigation. I would ask them to contact us before someone is hurt. We are keen to bring these people to justice as soon as possible.

“I would also appeal to the wider public for information.”

Yesterday’s attempted robberies following three similar incidents in the Wrexham area in the past two weeks, with armed robberies at convenience stores in Coedpoeth, Brynteg and Gwersyllt.

Anyone with any further information on any of the incidents is urged to contact North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.