Fresh Appeal A Year After New Forest Armed Robberies

5 December 2013, 06:36 | Updated: 5 December 2013, 06:57

A year on from two armed robberies in the New Forest, police are making a fresh effort to find the man behind them.

The first happened on Wednesday 5 December 2012 in Brockenhurst at around 6.30am when a man with a gun forced another man, who had just parked his Porsche, back into his vehicle. He then made him drive to the HSBC bank in the town and got him to get out several hundred pounds. He took the cash and made the man get out at a remote car park before stealing the car and then abandoning it near a railway bridge in Sway.
 
It was nine days later at around 9.30am on 14 December that the second robbery happened which police believe is linked. This time it was at a house in Rookes Lane, Lymington. Dressed in a fluorescent jacket and wearing goggles the man, armed with a gun, robbed a couple. He then took the 64-year-old woman hostage, got in their car and made the woman drive before dropping her back home and then stealing and later dumping the vehicle.
 
Despite extensive enquiries police have not been able to trace the man responsible but are continuing to follow up on leads.
 
Officers are now carrying out anniversary visits to properties around Tilebarn Lane to speak to local people and see if any of them saw the man as evidence shows he remained in the area for sometime after committing the offence. It is also likely passers-by at the time would have seen him. New posters are being put up in the area appealing for information.
 
Police are also re-issuing the description and artist impression of the robber along with an extended and enhanced version of an audio clip recorded on the victim’s phone of the robber.

The man is described as:
 
- White, approximately 5’10 – 6’0 tall and of slim to medium build.
- He is believed to be between 40 and 55 years of age.
- He may have had a black rucksack with a 4-5” blue stripe down the middle.
- He wore a fluorescent sleeveless yellow top on one occasion.
- He wore plastic swimming goggles on one occasion.
- He wore a beanie hat and then an open faced balaclava.
 
Officers also believe because of the man’s knowledge of the area he is likely to be local.
 
Anyone who thinks they may have information about the robberies is asked to call Detective Constable, Steven Norridge at the Hampshire Major Investigation Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.