Dorset Police news site

Officers investigating a robbery in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

At around 6.20pm on Sunday 29 January 2023 a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were walking in South Street when they saw two males wearing ski masks. The victims were concerned for their safety and made off in the direction of the Tudor Arcade.

One of the offenders approached the victims and attempted to engage the boy in conversation. As they were talking, the boy saw him pull what was believed to be a box cutter style knife from his pocket.

The boy fled the scene but when he returned to South Street a short time later, he saw the two offenders again and one of them threatened him before taking the boy’s bag and coat.

One of the offenders is described a white, five feet ten inches tall and aged in his late teens. He was wearing a black Puffa-style coat with the hood up and jogging bottoms.

The other offender was wearing a black ski mask, grey hooded top and grey or black jogging bottoms. He also had a black bag with a strap across his shoulder.

Police Constable Mike Rumsby, of Dorchester police, said: “This was a distressing incident for the victims, and we are carrying out a number of enquiries to identify those involved.

“I would ask anyone who witnessed what happened, or who has any information that might assist our investigation, to please contact us.

“I would also urge residents and businesses in the town centre with CCTV, or motorists who were driving in the area and have dashcam fitted, to please review their footage for the evening of Sunday 29 January 2023 to see if they have captured anything of relevance.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55230014950. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.