Arrests after armed robbery incidents

The first incident happened at about 7am on Wednesday January 4. Two men are alleged to have walked into Martin McColls newsagents in Thomas Street, Swinton, with one threatening the shop worker. The man made demands for cash and is said to have been carrying a red handled kitchen knife.

They left the shop and ran towards fields at the back of Edward Street, with a small amount of cash and some cigarettes.

The man allegedly carrying the knife is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall, average build, in his 30s and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a black jumper with the hood up, grey jogging bottoms, black trainers with lighter soles, black woollen gloves and a black woollen ribbed hat.

The second man is also described as white, aged in his 30s and wearing a long sleeved salmon coloured top.

A second incident is said to have happened at about 6.30am on Friday January 6.

Two men are believed to have entered the Select Store in Queen Street, before threatening the shop-keeper. One was armed with what is believed to be a knife, however no one was injured in the incident and they left the store empty handed, heading in the direction of Charmwood Street.

Two men, aged 38 and 34, from Rotherham, were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of robbery in connection to both incidents and have since been bailed pending further enquiries.

Detectives investigating the incidents are treating them as linked and would like to hear from anyone who may have information about what happened.

Call 101 or email [email protected] quoting incident number 84 of 4 January 2017 or incident number 116 of 6 January 2017.