A thief dubbed the ‘Burka Bandit’ has been filmed robbing travel agencies in Bedfordshire.
The man was caught on CCTV threatening two women with a knife on a raid at First Choice branch in Dunstable.
The thief, dressed head-to-toe in the Muslim women’s outfit, is reported to have taken ‘substantial’ amounts of money in raids since July 2009.
He was caught on CCTV film in August 2009 as he robbed Thomson Travel in Luton when he threatened a member of staff and a customer, again with a knife.
As with the first robbery, he took the women into a back office and escaped with cash from a safe.
He was also seen carrying an umbrella but it is unknown if this was another form of disguise or if he used it to threaten his victims.
The images were released as part of a Crimewatch Roadshow which is touring the country.
Detective Sergeant Terry David from Bedfordshire police told the Daily Mail: “Witnesses are sure [it was a man] because of the voice, build and mannerisms.”
He added it was difficult for police because officers can’t go around lifting people’s burkas.
“It is a very contentious issue,” he said. “A contentious disguise and we think he is deliberately choosing that disguise because of that.
“He could quite possibly strike again.”