Surrey Police are appealing for help in their hunt for the perpetrator in two robberies who targeted two shops in Addlestone and Chertsey and threatened staff with a screwdriver.

The first heist happened around 8.30pm on Sunday evening (February 2) at the Co-op on Ongar Parade.

A spokesperson for Surrey Police issued further details of the sinister robbery:

"A man went into the Co-op on Ongar Parade at around 8.30pm...(he) threatened a member of staff with a screwdriver and demanded that they open the till.

"He then made off with a quantity of cash.

"A member of the public reported seeing him run out of the store and get into a grey or silver BMW, which drove off in the direction of Hare Hill."

Earlier that same day, an attempted robbery happened in similar circumstances happened in Chertsey, Surrey Police revealed:

"We are also appealing for information following an attempted robbery at the One Stop in Chertsey earlier the same evening.

"A man went to the One Stop on Windsor Street at around 7.51pm and threatened a member of staff with a screwdriver and demanded they open the till.

"The member of staff refused and the man left the premises empty-handed in the direction of Alwyn Lane.

"It’s believed the two incidents are linked," a spokesperson for the county police force said on Tuesday (February 4).

PC Sally Newton, of the Runnymede Neighbourhood Policing Team, is among those assigned to this case.

She described the robberies as "very frightening" for the staff who were targeted.

"These incidents were very frightening for the staff members involved, and it is extremely fortunate no-one was hurt," Newton said.

“We are keen to identify the man pictured in the CCTV images, as he may have information which will assist us with our investigation.

“In addition, we would also like to speak to a member of the public who spoke to police from a shop phone on Sunday evening, stating they had seen the suspect travelling along Hare Hill," she added.

If you can help, call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference PR/45200013259, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.