Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery at a sweet shop in Sefton

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery at a sweet shop in #Bootle.

At around 3.45pm on Saturday, December 4 it was reported that a male suspect went into The Sweet Joint on Linacre Road and threatened a member of staff with a knife.

The suspect was reported to have stolen £200 from the till and made off from the shop on a pedal bike.

It was reported that a member of the public intervened, pushed the suspect off his bike and retrieved one of the stolen bags of cash.

The suspects then rode off towards the roundabout at the junction of Stanley Road, Knowsley Road and Linacre Road.

No injuries were reported but the member of staff was left extremely shaken by the incident.

The offender is described as white in his late 40’s, 5ft 6in tall, medium build and spoke with a Liverpool accent. He was wearing a facemask.

Enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing

for anyone with any information to come forward.

Detective Inspector Paul Gillies said: “Thankfully the shopworker wasn’t injured, but was left extremely shaken by the incident. We are determined to find the person responsible for this robbery and bring them to justice.”

“Business burglaries are not a victimless crime, especially for small independent shops trying to make a living and it has a huge impact on the community if they close the business as a result.” "If you were on Linacre Road on Saturday afternoon and noticed anything suspicious, the man described riding off, on a bike or have dashcam or other footage then please come forward and we will do the rest.”

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with reference 21000841097. You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.