By Craig RobinsonAN armed robber struck at a village store last night and threatened staff before fleeing with cash.It came as detectives investigated weekend ram-raids on stores in Haverhill and Exning, believed to be the work of a major crime organisation behind almost 100 robberies and raids across East Anglia.

By Craig Robinson

AN armed robber struck at a village store last night and threatened staff before fleeing with cash.

It came as detectives investigated weekend ram-raids on stores in Haverhill and Exning, believed to be the work of a major crime organisation behind almost 100 robberies and raids across East Anglia.

In the latest incident, a man armed with a knife struck at the post office in Wolsey Road, Stowmarket, at 7.03pm yesterday.

Inspector Steve Griss, of Suffolk police, said: “A male armed with a knife threatened members of staff and made off with a quantity of cash.

“Although we do not have any more information at this stage we would urge any witnesses to contact us.”

The two ram-raids happened in the early hours of Saturday. In the first, a five-strong gang drove a Jeep into the Mace store in Exning, but escaped empty-handed.

Forty minutes later a gang drove a stolen Vauxhall Astra into the Sainsbury's garage in Haverhill and fled with a haul of cigarettes.

Anyone with information about the Stowmarket robbery should contact Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

craig.robinson@eadt.co.uk