DETECTIVES hunting two masked and armed robbers today said they were working on "several leads" and making good progress in their investigations.Officers at Felixstowe are following up information that has come from the public – but are still keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the balaclava-clad gunman or the man in a wolf mask.

By Richard Cornwell

DETECTIVES hunting two masked and armed robbers today said they were working on "several leads" and making good progress in their investigations.

Officers at Felixstowe are following up information that has come from the public – but are still keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the balaclava-clad gunman or the man in a wolf mask.

Meanwhile, crime reduction officers have urged people not to keep large sums of cash in their homes or to talk publicly about their valuables.

A masked man with a double-barrelled shotgun tried to hold up the post office in Beach Station Road but was thwarted by two women working in the store, who saw him approaching, hid under the counter and called the police.

The man in the wolf mask was more successful as he got away with a substantial sum – believed to be around £1,000 – after forcing his way into the home of a 59-year-old woman in Langley Avenue and robbing her at knifepoint.

The incidents are not being linked at this stage.

A police spokeswoman said useful information had been received from witnesses to both incidents.

"We are following up several leads at the moment in connection with both incidents and the investigations are ongoing," she said.

"We would still like to hear from anyone who was in the Beach Station Road or Langley Avenue areas at the time of the incidents as they may have seen something relevant which could prove vital to the inquiries."

Police are still concerned at the number of people who keep large sums of money in their homes, especially following the large number of doorstep conmen incidents across the county this year.

"We would urge people not to keep large sums at home and certainly not to talk about money or valuables they may have in their properties," said the spokeswoman.

"People should take all the precautions when answering their doors and before they let someone into their home."

Householders were advised if possible to look out of a window first to see who was calling, use a door chain, be extra careful when answering the door late at night or early in the morning when callers are not expected, and to check the ID of the person calling.

The attempted raid on the post office took place just before 2.45pm on Thursday. The raider ran from the shop in the direction of Pretyman Road and turned right into Tacon Road. He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and dark track suit bottoms, with a white stripe down the side.

The robbery of the woman in Langley Avenue happened on Monday at just after 7.30am. The offender is described as white, about 6ft tall, of slim build and was wearing dark blue denim jeans and a black jacket.

n Anyone with any information is asked to contact Felixstowe CID on 01473 383300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.