Police probe 'link' between knifepoint robbery and shoplifting spate

Staff at a Peterborough service station were threatened with a knife, police said

Police are investigating whether a knifepoint robbery at a service station could be linked to a number of shoplifting offences at the same site.

Staff at the Apple Green services on Whittlesey Road in Stanground, Peterborough, were threatened with a knife before 21:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Cambridgeshire Police said staff had tried to stop a man taking goods.

The forced said they were looking at three other incidents at the station and "whether they could be linked".

The service station had reported three shoplifting offences, one on Saturday, 3 January and two on Sunday, 4 January.

Staff said that a man had entered the store on Tuesday and attempted to take items, and drew a knife when challenged.

He left with cigarettes worth hundreds of pounds and a bottle of spirits, the police said.

An appeal has been made for witnesses.