A man tried to steal cash from a pizza shop whilst hiding what appeared to be a gun under his clothes.

It happened at Princess Pizza on Shelton Court Shops in Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday, October 5.

At around 9.25pm a male - described as slim, 6ft tall, with short brown hair and a thin, jaw-line beard – entered the shop and asked for food, telling staff that he had no money.

When staff refused, he climbed over the counter, opened the till and stole cash before fleeing the shop.

At the time he was wearing a black North Face jacket and blue jogging bottoms.

A week later, at 9.35pm on Wednesday October 12, a male - wearing all black, with a hoody tightly pulled up over his head and face so that only his eyes could be seen - entered the shop with what appears to be a gun hidden beneath his clothing.

He then climbed over the counter and demanded that staff open the till.

Staff refused, and the male made off when a customer entered the pizza shop.

Police are linking both incidents and asking anyone with information to contact DC Andy Bennett by calling 101 and quoting incident reference number SE22183482.

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