03/02/2010 - Commercial armed robberies on rise
Shops, pubs and restaurants are being attacked by a new generation of younger armed robbers, police sources have revealed.
Young criminals start off with street crime and later move on to robbing neighbourhood businesses, the detectives suspect.
The latest Metropolitan Police figures show that the number of commercial raids is increasing, with armed robberies becoming more common at jewellers, Post Offices, convenience stores and newsagents.
According to London police figures, the number of raids, excluding bookmakers and cash vans, surged by a almost a quarter between April and December in 2009.
There has also been a rise in robberies where guns, whether real or imitation, are used.
Detective Superintendent Stuart Cundy, of Scotland Yard's Flying Squad, said the people committing crime are disorganised and rarely take large sums with them.
He warned: "Any report of commercial armed robbery, whether the gun is intimated or real, will be responded to by specialist armed officers.
"We are closely monitoring where these offences occur and working hard with our borough colleagues and local businesses in a targeted approach to crack down on these offenders."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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