Two shops hit by armed robberies

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A bookmakers and a travel agency have been targeted in two armed robberies within hours of each other.

South Wales Police sealed off a shopping centre in Lakeside, Cardiff, after two men, believed to be armed with a firearm, held up the Betfred shop at 1100GMT.

Police are keeping an "open mind" about if it is linked to an armed robbery at Thomson's Travel, Pontyclun at 1400.

No-one was injured and it is thought no shots were fired in either incident.

The men who held up the Cardiff betting shop are believed to have fled with a quantity of cash and escaped in a getaway car driven by a third man.

Staff at the betting shop and passers-by said they believed the gang were of Asian appearance.

This was a distressing incident for the people involved and we are doing everything possible to catch the people responsible Supt Tony Smith

Police are asking for witnesses to come forward and are also studying CCTV footage from the betting shop.

South Wales Police said it was "considering the possibility" that the robbery is linked to the later one Thomson's Travel in Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun.

Staff were threatened by two men with what is believed to be a firearm.

They left the scene in a vehicle with a quantity of cash.

District commander for the Taff area, Supt Tony Smith, said: "This is a rare crime in our area and we have begin a full investigation.

"This was a distressing incident for the people involved and we are doing everything possible to catch the people responsible."

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.