Detectives in Bath are telling people in the city to stay calm but be vigilant, as they investigate three reports of a man with a gun.
Police have told Heart the first incident took place around 3am on Thursday September 1st behind the Argos on Lower Bristol Road, when a man and his girlfriend were threatened and told to hand over money by a man with a handgun.
They refused and the suspect ran away. They describe him as white, 5ft 8ins, of slight build, with dark, short untidy hair. He was also said to be clean shaven and spoke in a Bath accent but with a "put on" London twang.
The next incident occurred the following evening at 7.30pm on Friday September 2nd in the Poolmead Road area of Twerton, where two girls aged 13 and 15 were approached by a man carrying a blue case, who indicated that he may have been in possession of a gun.
They describe him as white, 30-35 years old, skinny and with dark hair. He was said to be wearing a blue t-shirt with a logo on the left breast and grey jogging bottoms.
The third, and most recent incident, happened around 7.30pm on Tuesday September 6th near the bus depot on Lower Bristol Road, when a 17-year-old boy walking along the riverbank path, was threatened by a man armed with a hand gun.
The teenager describes him as white, in his late 20s, 5ft 8ins tall, slim, with dark brown hair and a large nose. He was wearing a white shirt, black trousers and smart black shoes and was carrying a black backpack.
None of the victims have been hurt.
In two of the incidents, witnesses described the man as "mumbling".
Detectives are now investigating whether all three reports are related.
Detective Inspector Charlotte Tacker of Bath CID told Heart:
"We are at the very early stages of the enquiry. But obviously it is a possibility. If someone knows someone who fits these desecriptions, who may have access to a handgun and who may have been acting strangely or out of character, we would appeal for them to come forward.
She added that they are particularly keen to track down a man and woman who may have witnessed the first incident near Argos, but also asked for people stay calm:
"The message is to go about your daily lives, but be vigilant. With three offences like this, it's very unusual for Bath. We want to avoid any further ones occurring. Our main goal is the protection of the public."
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 0845 456 700 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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