LEYTON: Robber targets same shop twice (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Appealing for information after thief uses knife during second robbery

1:49pm Monday 23rd January 2012 in News By Sarah May Hayes

CCTV images have been released of a thief who threatened staff with a knife during the second recent robbery at the same shop.

Staff of Polski Sklep Zosia, a delicatessen in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, fear the man will return and are said to be too scared to continue working.

The robber, who is believed to be well known in the area, entered the shop and stole £300 from the till on November 21 last year.

He returned on January 11 and waved a knife at shop assistants before stealing £100. Staff managed to cover him in red deterrent spray, but he is still to be traced.

Shopowner Tomasz Wojtanowski, 40, hopes the images will lead to the robber being caught before he hurts someone.

He said: “The police have failed to help find this man, even though I brought the pictures to the station to show them. Since then I have heard nothing.

“People around Leyton have said they know where this man lives but are too scared to go to the police.

“We are all so stressed every day with fear that he might attack the shop again, even after we sprayed him he still got away. I just don’t know where to go from here.

“I am sure he will come again and again.

Detective Inspector David Spencer, of the Waltham Forest Robbery Squad, said: “These were frightening experiences for the victims in these cases.

“We have obtained excellent images of the man we believe is responsible for both offences and we would ask that anyone who can recognise him comes forward to police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Waltham Forest police on 101 or to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.