BREAKING NEWS: Man charged with armed robberies in Worthing and Shoreham

The Co-op in Shoreham was targeted by armed robbers. Picture by Eddie Mitchell

Matthew Johnson, of Hillside Avenue, Worthing, has been charged with a robbery at Betfred in Findon Road, Worthing, on March 5 and at Co-op in Royal George Parade, Shoreham, on Saturday (March 14).

He has also been charged with allegedly having a firearm during each of those robberies as well as making off without payment from The Katarina in Village Square, Brighton Marina Village, on March 5, making off without payment from Miller & Carter in Manor Road, Lancing, on March 8, and theft from Co-op in High Street, Shoreham, on March 12.

The 23-year-old has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Friday, March 20).

The news comes after detectives previously announced they were linking the robberies in Findon Road and Royal George Parade to three other robberies across Lancing, Shoreham and Worthing.

These offences are the robbery of an Uncle Sams takeaway in Crabtree Lane, Lancing, on January 3, at Uncle Sams takeaway in Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham, on February 22, and at Ladbrokes in Rowlands Road, Worthing, on March 9.

Investigations into these crimes are still on-going and so far no one has been charged in relation to these offences.

Detectives have, however, arrested a 33-year-old man from Burgess Hill, a 23-year-old woman from Shoreham and a 35-year-old man from Worthing over the incidents,

The trio have been released on bail until dates in May.

Officers are still keen to speak to anyone who has any information about any of the offences.

Detective Inspector Rob Walker said: “We are continuing to make inquiries to try to identify all of those involved in this series of robberies.

“We take these incidents very seriously and have a team dedicated to identifying and finding those responsible.

“We will look into every line of inquiry we find and I would urge anyone who has any information at all to contact us urgently.”

Anyone with information about any of the robberies should email [email protected] quoting Op Radar, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Police are still investigating a separate robbery in Littlehampton, on Monday evening, at the Cuff Miller garage, in Littlehampton.

However, this incident is not being connected to the five other raids.