A £25,000 reward has been issued to help catch a robber who held up a Hove post office at gunpoint.
Police today released an e-fit of the man who they believe was also behind two previous raids at the same post office in Melville Road.
In the most recent, he threatened staff and customers with a gun at about 9.20am last Friday (December 3).
At the same time, the Post Office has issued a reward offer of up to £25,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction.
Detective Inspector Lee Horner said: “Two other armed robberies have taken place at the Post Office recently – one on 27 September and one on 4 October – and we believe the same offender committed all three.
“This man has used a very distinctive car, a dark Mondeo with a white bonnet, that he only had for a few days before this incident and he was wearing distinctive striped trousers.
“We hope that the reward offer, together with the publication of the Efit, will jog memories especially of anyone close to him. I urge them to come forward and give us the information so we can out a stop to this man’s spree of offending before somebody is hurt.”
The man, who wore a balaclava, directly threatened one woman during the terrifying raid. He demanded cash, and staff handed over more than £1,000.
He then fled through the snow in a black Ford Mondeo LX registration P170 KVP, which has a distinctive white bonnet.
It was abandoned in Norfolk Road, Brighton, a short time after the robbery and the man then continued on foot west along Western Road, Brighton. Police have recovered the car and a gun, which is being tested to confirm if it is connected to the incident.
It is believed the suspect purchased the vehicle in the few days before the robbery and it previously had legitimate owners from outside the Brighton area.
Police would still like to hear from anyone who saw the car before the robbery in any part of Sussex, whether it was parked or was being driven. It is believed the car may have been parked up or hidden away for at least a week prior to this robbery.
The offender is described as dark skinned, possibly North African, 5’9” tall, of medium build and clean shaven. He was wearing a dark coloured beanie style hat and a dark coloured jacket and jeans.
He was wearing tracksuit bottoms with three white stripes down the side and a dark top with a light-coloured patch or emblem on his upper left arm.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Dunham or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
