FIVE of nine knife-point robberies in five weeks may have the same gang behind them. Police are linking robberies at three off licences in Canterbury and Herne Bay.

The latest was on Saturday at Unwins Wine Merchants in Wincheap. Two men went into the shop at around 7.10pm and threatened the shop assistant demanding money from the till. They got away with £100, and ran off towards Thanington.

They are both white, between 25 and 29 and were wearing baseball caps. One is around 6ft, the other 5ft 6in.

Previously knife-wielding robbers struck at Threshers in St Margaret's Street, Canterbury, on January 28 and February 3 and Threshers in Herne Bay on February 10 and last Friday.

In the last Herne Bay robbery two men aged between 25 and 35 entered the shop in Canterbury Road around 7pm. They grabbed one of the assistants threatening him with a knife and demanded cash. They escaped with £200, running off towards Gosfield Road.

One was 5ft 4in with a broad face and prominent cheekbones and was wearing a three-quarter length jacket, a dark grey fleece and dark trousers. The second was around 6ft and wearing a grey or green padded jacket.

Det Sgt Steve Woollcott said: "We are linking these robberies because the same types of premises were targeted at similar times. If anyone saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area we would like to hear from them."

A robbery at Victoria Wines in Whitstable High Street on February 21 is not being linked. Neither are knife-point robberies at The Little Chef, Upper Harbledown, on February 22 in which money was taken from the safe and an Air Ambulance collection box taken, Porter convenience store in Canterbury on February 7 and 13 and Londis convenience store, Canterbury, on February 23.

Anyone with any information should call Det Sgt Woollcott on 01227 817169 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.