Neighbourhood officers have arrested a suspect in a series of shop robberies in Carrington.
The Mansfield Road-based Co-op has been targeted at least seven times by thieves throughout October.
Each incident saw masked offenders walk into the store, take items and head towards the exit without paying.
When staff members then went to challenge them, they were told they would be stabbed unless they moved away.
Police believe each incident – all of which happened between 6 October and 21 October – to be linked, along with another robbery.
This happened on 17 October, with staff at the Co-op, in Lambourne Drive, Wollaton, once again threatened while challenging a theft.
Fast-forward to Friday (23 October) night and City North officers were out on patrol in Carrington when they spotted someone sitting at a bus stop.
Believing him to be a suspect in the robberies, neighbourhood officers detained and searched him, at which point a screwdriver and a balaclava were discovered.
The 42-year-old man was duly arrested on suspicion of eight counts of robbery, possessing an offensive weapon and going equipped for theft.
When he was then linked to two shop thefts at another Wollaton store too, he was additionally arrested on suspicion of shoplifting.
PC Harry Brown, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“While thankfully nobody sustained any injuries in these incidents, shop staff were threatened with violence.
“These included threats to stab the staff members unless they walked away, which – quite simply – is completely unacceptable.
“Nobody should have to go through this kind of experience when they’re just trying to do their job, so we’re pleased to have now made an arrest.
“Despite this, we are still appealing to the public for any information relating to this series of robberies and shop thefts.”
This can be reported directly to the police on 101, quoting 26000643549, while Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
