Detectives have released an e-fit of a man suspected of carrying out three robberies at mobile phone shops in Brighton, Hove and Worthing.
The suspect was armed with a hammer when he held up Replay Exchange in Western Road, Brighton, on Tuesday 16 August.
He went into the shop just before 9.30am as the manager was opening up.
The robber told the manager to get down on the floor then jumped over the counter and grabbed several iPhones.
He made his getaway on what was described as a BMX bike, riding along Western Road towards Churchill Square.
Sussex Police said that the Replay Exchange robbery was being linked to a similar raid in Hove on Saturday 13 July.
At about 12.30pm the suspect walked into the Carphone Warehouse shop in George Street.
He threatened staff and used a pair of wire cutters to remove two mobile phones from the display before riding off on a bike.
The Worthing robbery happened on Thursday 7 July at the Carphone Warehouse in Montague Street.
The manager was opening up the shop at about 9am when the suspect came in and threatened staff with a knife.
He stole two mobile phones before riding off on a bike up Montague Street.
Frightening
Detective Constable Scott Moore, from Brighton and Hove CID, said: “Due to the times of the robberies and the modus operandi, we believe all three may have been committed by the same man.
“Fortunately, no staff were injured but it is, nonetheless, a frightening experience and all three shops have lost thousands of pounds worth of phones.”
The suspect was described as black, 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in tall and of a thin build, aged in his late teens to mid twenties and with very dark skin and short black hair.
During the Brighton robbery the suspect had two shaved lines on the left hand side of his head.
During the Hove robbery the suspect was wearing a grey hoodie, jeans, black trainers and a dark blue backpack.
During the Worthing robbery he was sporting a distinctive “chin-strap” beard and thin moustache.
He was wearing a light grey woolly zip-up jumper, possibly with darker grey fur lining the hood, baggy light blue jeans, and trainers.
He was also wearing a Russian-style winter hat which had grey fur at the forehead and ear flaps, and tan-coloured fabric covering the head.
Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who can identify the suspect or who has been offered mobile phones for sale.
Likewise anyone who has information about the robberies is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
