Masked robber threatens staff with a machete during series of raids across Surrey

A man who threatened staff with a machete during a series of raids across Surrey has been jailed fir six years. Anthony Akinniranye, 20, of Manor Green Road, Epsom, pleaded guilty to the two offences from December 2023, the first of which took place just two days after Christmas Day.

On December 27, a masked Akinniranye entered a shop on East Street, Epsom, where he produced a machete and threatened the shop worker, demanding they hand over money from the till and other items including cigarettes and vapes. Akinniranye then made off, leaving a trail of items such as coins, packets of cigarettes and a till insert from the shop. Upon forensic investigation, Akinniranye’s DNA was identified on the insert, which he was seen holding in CCTV.

The following evening (28 December), police received reports of an armed robbery at a shop on Kingston Road, Ewell, with almost identical circumstances. CCTV captured the suspect entering the shop wearing a face covering and waving a machete in the air, demanding cash and cigarettes.

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A CCTV trawl by officers identified Akinniranye entering the shop the night before – wearing the same clothing of the offender involved in the East Street robbery less than an hour before. Just 24 hours later, Akinniranye had made off from the second business, with more than £1,000 in cash.

Thanks to the connections in CCTV and forensic work, Akinniranye was identified as a suspect and arrested. He was charged with two counts of robbery and sentenced to six years in prison at Chichester Crown Court on 30 October. Detective Constable for East Surrey CID, Sarah Kinkade said: "Akinniranye showed a complete disregard for the financial impact his actions would have on the businesses he stole from, as well as the traumatising experience the staff members endured when he threatened them with a potentially lethal weapon.

"Thankfully, due to his carelessness when fleeing the scene, we were able to link his DNA to a discarded item from one of the stores. I hope this outcome serves as a message to victims and perpetrators - these crimes will never be tolerated, and we will pursue all lines of enquiry to bring offenders to justice."