Armed robber holds up Hove store

A knife-wielding robber held up a convenience store in the Poets Corner area of Hove at the weekend.

Sussex Police said that the robbery happened at Poets Convenience Store on the corner of Westbourne Street and Coleridge Street at about 9.50pm on Friday (11 May).

A slim white man with an acne-scarred face demanded money from a member of staff. After being handed money from the till he ran out of the shop.

The thief was described as aged between 25 and 30 years old, about 6ft to 6ft 2in tall and clean shaven.

He was wearing a white hooded top or jacket possibly with a faint grey camouflage print or similar and a pair of wraparound sunglasses in black. He was also wearing black gloves, black trainers and black trousers or tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Constable Karen Woodhams, from Brighton and Hove CID, said: “Although this incident only lasted less than a minute it was a very frightening incident for the victim and thankfully no one was injured.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area before or after the incident or anyone with information which may assist us with our inquiries.”

Anyone with information about the robbery or the armed robber is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.