Police are searching for an unusual suspect who raided a jewellers shop dressed in a burkha.

The armed robber pretended to be a mother pushing a pram when he targeted the Birmingham store Friends Jewellers in Cape Hill on Wednesday.

Police believe the crime could be linked to an attempted armed robbery in the city just a few days earlier.

In this incident, the man was carrying a firearm wrapped in a black plastic bag as he tried unsuccessfully to raid a Securicor van on March 14.

Four men, who were dressed in dark clothing with their faces covered, were also involved in the robbery at Friends Jewellers.

Armed with hammers, the gang smashed display cabinets and sprayed four shop workers with an unknown substance.

The men, all thought to be Asian, escaped with a quantity of jewellery in waiting cars.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact police on 0845 113 5000 or call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

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