Appeal Following Two Attempted 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, Sunday February 12. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first incident happened at around 7.50am at the McColls 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​