Ladbrokes offer £10,000 reward after five of its shops were robbed in 13 days

POLICE have arrested a man in connection with an armed robbery at a bookmakers office during which two shots were fired.

No one was injured during the raid on the Ladbrokes betting office in St Francis Terrace in the Collon area of Pennyburn, Derry on December 16.

A police spokesperson said a 43-year-old man was arrested on Monday afternoon and was currently “helping police with their enquiries.”

The raid of the Collon bookies was one of five robberies at Ladbrokes offices during a 13 day period.

Police say they are not linking the raids “at this stage.”

Guns, knives and a hammer were used by raiders at other offices in the Shantallow, Creggan, Elmwood Street and Lecky Road areas.

No one was injured in any of the incidents but staff are believed to have been badly shaken.

The arrest of the man comes on the day Ladbrokes offered £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction of anyone involved in the raids.

A Ladbrokes spokesperson said it was offering full counselling and support to all staff affected by the spate of robberies and that the company was working closely with police in their investigations.

The spokesperson said the company was taking additional security measures and “reiterating” its training to staff to ensure their personal safety which was “the priority at all times.”

The spokesperson concluded: “A reward of up to £10,000 is being made available for information leading to a conviction.”