A £10,000 reward has been offered in the hunt for a man who has carried out a series of armed robberies, including one at a Gipsy Lane bookies.
The man has been linked to eight gunpoint raids at betting shops across the country, the most recent of which was a branch of Ladbrokes in Gipsy Lane, Leicester earlier this month.
Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to trace in connection with the robberies, which have also occurred in Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, West Sussex.
The reward for information which leads to the robber's conviction was announced today by the Association of British Bookmakers.
Last week, detectives released CCTV images of the man wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies at bookmakers across and Leicestershire.
Officers have connected at least eight offences between February and March this year.
Police have linked the following robberies between February and March this is:
Wednesday, 13 February – Ladbrokes, Midland Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Saturday, 16 February – Betfred, Kettering Road, Northampton.
Saturday, 16 February – Ladbrokes, Fish Street, Northampton.
Monday 18 February – William Hill, The Boulevard, Crawley, Sussex.
Thursday 21 February – Betfred, Dalkeith Place, Kettering.
Saturday 23 February – Ladbrokes, Harding Place, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Wednesday 27 February – Ladbrokes, Broadwalk, Crawley, Sussex
Wednesday 6 March – Ladbrokes, Gipsy Lane, Belgrave, Leicester.
The suspect is black, 5ft 5in to 6ft and, possibly, in his late 30s or early 40s.
In seven of the eight raids he was wearing a black hooded top. On one occasion he was wearing a grey hooded top.
He has also been seen wearing a black hat with a scarf covering his face and white trainers.
Detective Inspector Mark Pattison, from Northamptonshire Police, said: "This reward has been offered to help encourage anyone who may have any information about this man to come forward."We would urge him, or anyone who recognises him, to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 and quote Operation Needle."Thankfully, no-one was hurt in any of these incidents, however they have been extremely traumatic for the cashiers and the businesses have lost money."We are working closely with the other forces where we believe the offences have been committed by the same man and are confident that someone has information that can help."
