A WOMAN dressed in men’s clothing sparked a police hunt around Newton Abbot after two attempted knifepoint robberies outside a shop.
Details of the Friday night drama at the Spar shop in Heathfield have only just been released by police.
Officers say a female offender allegedly approached a woman in the doorway of the shop in Battle Road at just before 9pm.
She asked her the time and then branded a weapon, prompting the victim to run inside the shop.
A police spokesman said: ‘As she did this a man was leaving and the offender then demanded his wallet on the steps of the shop.’
He said the armed woman left the scene empty-handed and headed towards an alley at Sparkworld side of the shop.
The spokesman said this morning: It is believed the offender, who was tall and dressed in men’s clothing, had been in the area for some time prior to the crimes – and we are keen to trace any witnesses.’
He revealed the suspect was white and between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 11ins tall.
‘She was wearing a blue or grey baseball cap, a khaki hip-length jacket, blue baggy jeans and trainers,’ he said, adding she was carrying a small white paper bag and a black drawstring bag.
‘We are keen to speak to anyone with any information or who may have seen the offender in the Heathfield area that evening. We would also like to reassure the public that this is an unusual isolated incident.’
Police can be contacted via [email protected] or call 101, quoting crime reference number CR/102550/17.
Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
* Officers have since arrested a 30-year-old woman from Newton Abbot on suspicion of attempted robbery. She has been released under investigation.