HE is the audacious armed robber who has terrified workers into handing over thousands of pounds of cash at gunpoint.
Dubbed the Bike Bandit because of his means of getting away from the scene of his crimes, the gunman has already targeted a bank and a building society in Southampton – and police fear he could strike again.
The Daily Echo can reveal exclusively these security camera pictures today as detectives step up their hunt for the robber they describe as “dangerous”.
The CCTV images show the moments the man burst into branches of the Nationwide Building Society and Abbey bank brandishing a weapon and demanding cash before escaping on a bicycle.
Police have released the pictures in the hope it will help track him down.
Wearing a jacket and a hat and with a scarf covering his face, the gunman can be seen cycling up to the Nationwide in Portswood before pointing a gun at a frightened cashier.
After filling his bag with thousands of pounds of cash, he then jumps back on his bicycle and makes his getaway in the direction of Mecca Bingo shortly before 5pm on February 20.
Eight days later, the robber targeted the Abbey bank in Bitterne Precinct in what was almost an identical attack, escaping on a bicycle with a bag stuffed full of money at around 4.50pm.
With a gun in his right hand, the robber thrusts a bag over the counter before making his escape.
Detective Sergeant Paul Gelman described the raids as “audacious” and urged members of the public not to approach the gunman.
He said:“We believe these to be the work of a single person and we urge anyone who might know him to come forward.
“These acts are audacious in their nature and represent a threat to the public and to the person committing the crimes.We would ask the public to be vigilant, to report any suspicious behaviour around banks or building societies and to not approach this male.
“He is carrying what looks like a firearm and we would not want anyone to put themselves at unnecessary risk.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bitterne CID on 0845 045 4545 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting Operation Vivid.
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