Police hunting a raider who tried to rob a betting office armed with a stun gun and then snatched a pensioner’s handbag have issued pictures of a man they are seeking.
The raider entered Ladbrokes in Queen Street, Morley, at 5.28pm on Sunday while two assistants and a customer were present. The bandit threatened the staff with what is believed to be a Taser-style weapon and demanded money.
The man produced a bag and ordered the staff to fill it with money.
But courageous counter staff ignored the raider’s demands and pressed a security panic button. When the alarm sounded the man fled from the premises without grabbing any money.
Shortly afterwards it is believed the same raider carried out a robbery on a 78-year-old woman when a man with the same description grabbed her handbag in Commercial Street and ran off towards Zoar Street.
The victim of the robbery was on her way to church with two friends when the raider struck.
After snatching the bag the robber was chased by members of the public including one of the woman’s friends.
As he ran off the robber dropped the handbag, but was able to escape.
Police were alerted and the force helicopter was scrambled to the scene to search for the fugitive from the skies.
Dog handlers were summoned to scour the streets for the suspect who is described as a white, in his early 30s of medium build with short dark hair who was wearing a distinctive yellow and black sports style jacket.