ARMED pizza robbers who attacked a lost delivery man at knifepoint may have deliberately lured him to a fictitious address, The Evening Star can reveal today.

ARMED pizza robbers who attacked a lost delivery man at knifepoint may have deliberately lured him to a fictitious address, The Evening Star can reveal today.

It has emerged that the pizza delivery man, robbed of his pizza at knifepoint by two men he had stopped to ask directions from, had been called to a non-existent house.

The frightening crime, by thieves risking life in prison for a hot snack, has been branded as a "sad indictment on today's society".

Ross Wright, manager of the Pizza Hut delivery unit, in Norwich Road where the victim works, fears the robbers may have lured his colleague to the area for an ambush.

He said: "We'd had an order for All Saints Road but the delivery man was struggling to find the house number.

"We thought it was genuine but it's possible the men had ordered the pizza and then stood on the corner waiting for him.

"Hopefully it was just a coincidence they were there with a knife – but it does seem suspicious."

Mr Wright added the victim has recovered from his ordeal and turned down the offer of time off.

He said: "He was back at work the following night. He wasn't harmed in the incident and he seems fine. He just handed over the pizzas and they went.

"This is the first incident of its kind and hopefully it won't happen again."

The two men threatened and then robbed the victim after he asked them for directions in All Saints Road, Ipswich at about 11pm on Tuesday.

The hungry pair, wielding what was believed to be a knife, grabbed the food and ran off towards Bramford Lane. The victim was unhurt.

Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said the incident is a sad indictment on today's society.

He said: "The fact they committed this crime for a pizza shows how arrogant and brazen these criminals are. But it's not just a pizza they'll do it for - some would do it for a cigarette. They need to be stopped.

"Those who carry knives cause devastation to victims and their families. The time has come to send out a strong message to those carrying knives that they will be given strong sentences. Until this happens, it will continue.

"I'd urge the people of Ipswich and anyone who knows the individuals responsible for this to call the police to help trace these robbers."

Police are now appealing for witnesses to help trace the armed robbers – an offence that can carry a lengthy jail term.

The men are described as being of mixed race, between 18 and 19-years-old, of slim build and about 5ft10ins to 5ft 11ins. Both wore hooded tops.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Dc Sue Ramsay at Ipswich CID on 01473 383133 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

What do you think of this crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk