Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after two
robberies took place in Biggleswade over the weekend.
The first robbery happened at around 6.15pm on Friday evening (February 15)
as the 15 year old victim was walking along an alleyway in Palace Street towards
the train station. Six males were blocking his way and as he tried to pass, one
of the group grabbed the victim and demanded he handed over his mobile phone.
The victim broke free and ran towards the train station but was chased and
tackled to the floor. Two of the group dragged the victim back into the alleyway
and then he was threatened with a knife and searched. The offenders took the
victim’s mobile phone before a member of the public intervened and the offenders
fled the area.
The two offenders are both described as white males, in their late teens or
early 20s. The first offender was between five feet nine inches and six feet
tall, of medium build, with dark shaven hair and was wearing a light coloured
top with the hood pulled up. The second offender was around six feet tall, of
average build and wearing a black hat and a light coloured hooded top.
Just after midnight on Sunday February 17 a similar robbery took place in an
alleyway which runs between Langford Road and Hitchin Street in the town. The 19
year old victim was talking on his mobile phone when a group of five males
blocked his path. One of the group then punched the victim twice causing him to
fall to the floor. Another offender has then kicked the victim to the head and
body while two other offender have searched the victim, taking his mobile
phones, tobacco, small amount of cash and one of his shoes – a Nike, grey and
blue size ten trainer with a white Nike tick.
The offenders are again described as being white males, in their late teens.
One offender was around five feet eight inches tall, of average build and
wearing a white hooded top with three green stripes along the arm, black
tracksuit bottoms and trainers. A second offender was around five feet ten
inches tall, chubby and wearing light grey jogging bottoms, a black hooded top
and a blue and purple cap.
Detective Constable Emma Dahl, who is investigating both robberies, is keen
to hear from anyone who may have witnessed either attack or seen the offenders
either before or afterwards.
DC Dahl said: “While we are keeping an open mind about whether these two
offences are related, given the manner in which they were committed and the
numbers involved, it does seem likely that we could be dealing with the same
group of offenders.
“Both victims have been left extremely shaken up by their experiences and I
hope that someone may recall seeing a group of young men in the two areas at the
time of the offences. I’d particularly like to hear from a man and a woman, in
their 40s, who were walking near Palace Street just after the first offence took
place and spoke with the victim. It is possible that they may have information
which could be extremely useful.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of
either attack or anyone else who may have information – however small or
insignificant they think it is – that could help us. Don’t dismiss your
information as unimportant – even tiny details which don’t seem relevant now
might become useful later on in the investigation.”
If you have information relating to this incident, contact DC Dahl,
in confidence, on 01234 275357, the non-emergency number 101, or text
information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800
555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
