Colchester: Appeal after Canterbury Road robbery

Update: Friday 24 March

A man has been arrested on suspicion of armed robbery after police officers chased a man through Colchester city centre.

Officers investigating a robbery which took place at a shop in Canterbury Road, in Colchester, shortly after 7.15pm on Monday 20 February had identified a man they wanted to speak to in connection with the incident.

During the incident, the victim sustained a cut which was thankfully neither life-threatening nor life-changing. She was, though, understandably very shaken.

Whilst patrolling the city yesterday afternoon, Thursday 23 March, two PCSOs identified a man and approached him. He then ran away.

Four officers then chased the man and caught up with him in Fennings Chase, near Priory Street.

The man, aged 30 and from Colchester, has been arrested on suspicion of robbery, aggravated burglary and possession of a knife/bladed article and remains in custody for questioning.

Sunday 26 February

We’re investigating a robbery at a shop in Canterbury Road, Colchester, which was reported to us shortly after 7.15pm on Monday 20 February.

Two men, both of whom were armed with knives and had their faces covered, entered the shop and threatened the shopkeeper.

The victim did sustain a cut, but thankfully the injury is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

The men left the shop with about £500 worth of tobacco and about £100 from the till.

Officers arrived at the scene and carried out a search of the area but no one matching the suspects’ details could be found.

The first man is white and was wearing a grey hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms and dark coloured trainers. He also had a dark-coloured puffer jacket on.

The second man is white and had a beard. He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and navy jogging bottoms.

Our enquiries are ongoing, including examining CCTV from the shop and the surrounding roads as well work to isolate any forensic opportunities.

We need anyone with information on the incident but has not yet come forward to speak to us to get in touch.

Specifically, we’d like to speak to anyone with dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV footage of the area.

If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

You can let us know by submitting a report online or by using our Live Chat service.

Live Chat is an online service available on our website Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm, where you can send and receive real-time direct messages with an online digital 101 operator.

To use the service, select the ‘Live Chat’ icon at the bottom right of your screen when you're on our website. It can be accessed from a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

Alternatively you can call us on 101.

To find out more about the different reporting services visit our 'Help Us Help You' webpage. 

If you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

Please cite crime reference 42/31414/23 to ensure your information gets to the right person as quickly as possible.