A GANG of three men armed with a meat cleaver are suspected of committing five robberies in Orford over the weekend.

In each incident the suspects have been described as white, in their late teens to early 20s, all around 5’ 6” to 5’ 8” tall and with local accents. They were wearing black clothing and had their faces covered.

The first incident happened on Friday at 9.40pm on the corner of St Peters Way and Battersby Lane.

The victim, a 28-year-old man, was threatened by three men with a meat cleaver who demanded his wallet. The victim handed over his wallet before the men ran off towards Scott Street.

The second incident, at 7pm on Saturday  involved a 15-year-old boy who was walking on wasteland just off Battersby Lane. He was approached by three men and threatened with a meat cleaver. They stole an iPhone and £7 in cash before fleeing the scene.

The third incident took place between 8.35pm and 8.50pm on Saturday on Back Forshaw Street.

Three men approached a 54-year-old man and threatened him with a meat cleaver demanding his wallet. The victim gave them £5 before running off towards Orford Lane.

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The fourth incident happened at 9pm on Saturday. Three men approached a 66-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman outside the Albion Pub on Battersby Lane. Two of the men distracted the victims and the third snatched the woman’s handbag before they ran off towards Orford Lane.

The fifth incident happened at 11.15pm on Saturday when a 27-year-old man was approached by three men on Haydock Street.

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They asked him for the time before threatening him with a meat cleaver and demanding he empty his pockets. The victim handed over his phone, wallet and a packet of cigarettes before the men ran off towards Lythgoes Lane.

Detective Constable Jill Peggs said: “We believe all of these incidents are linked due to similar circumstances and they have all taken place within a relatively small area. Fortunately, no-one was injured but the victims have been left extremely shaken after experiencing a terrifying ordeal.

“I want to reassure the local community that we are doing everything we can to trace the men responsible and our enquiries are very much ongoing. We are appealing for the public’s help in identifying the offenders and I’m urging anyone with any information about their identities - or anything else that might assist with our investigation - to come forward.”

If you have any information about any of the incidents please call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number IML 304382.