Police believe a gang of travelling criminals was behind a frightening armed robbery at an Oxford newsagents.

And the axe raid is being linked to several other thefts in the region.

The masked gang, armed with an axe and a claw hammer, carried out the early morning raid on John Menzies, in London Road, Headington.

They were discovered by a 28-year-old worker, who was manhandled into the shop.

The men escaped with a large quantity of cigarettes in the raid at 5am on Friday.

Police now believe the same three-man gang was responsible for a series of thefts the previous day.

Crimes being linked include a theft at a newsagents in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, on Thursday afternoon, and a raid at Office World in Park End Street, Oxford, soon afterwards in which a till was stolen.

Between 6pm and 7pm on Thursday the thieves are suspected of several thefts and attempted thefts from stores at Cowley Retail Park.

The men were seen together in a silver or grey Austin Montego, with the registration number E493 HLK.

Police are appealing to anyone who saw the car to get in touch. They also want to recover the till, which may have been abandoned nearby.

Two of the men were white, described as being aged between 17 and their early 20s. One is described as 5ft 8in, slim, with short dark hair in a centre parting. The second was wearing a leather jacket and black jeans.

The third was of Afro-Caribbean appearance with a shaved head and long, thin sideburns down his jaw.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01865 266333.

Story date: Monday 08 March

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