Police are still hunting for a man who hit four banks and bookmakers in Salford and Warrington in under three hours.
But it’s been revealed the armed robber escaped with less than £1,000.
Staff were threatened at gunpoint at Santander bank in Eccles, Betfred bookmakers in Cadishead, Betfred in Walkden and Betfred in Culcheth, Warrington on Thursday 8 January.
At around 4.10pm the man walked into Santander bank at The Mall in Eccles.
He pointed a silver handgun at staff and tried to jump over the counter, but emergency shutters were activated and the armed thief fled empty-handed.
The branch remained closed on Friday 9 January but has since re-opened.
Just 20 minutes later a man with a similar description went into the William Hill bookmaker’s on Walkden Road in Walkden, threatened staff with a handgun and tried to get into the till area, before fleeing empty handed.
Later that evening police believe the same man hit two more bookmakers.
He threatened staff with a gun before escaping with £150 from Betfred Cadishead, and several hundred pounds from Betfred Culcheth.
The man is described as being white, with a slim build, around 5ft 7in tall.
CCTV revealed the suspect was wearing a grey scarf across his face, blue trousers, black trainers with white laces, black woolen gloves and a blue hooded coat with fur around the hood and a yellow emblem on his upper sleeve.
He was carrying a black laptop-style bag across his body.
Police are still appealing for witnesses to get in touch.
Detective Sergeant Karl Dalton of Salford division said: “I understand people who live in these areas will be concerned and I want to assure you that we are doing all we can to catch the man.
“Fortunately, no-one was hurt but this man is brazenly threatening people with a gun and he must be stopped.
“We would ask that if anyone was in the area at the time and remembers seeing a man matching the description that they contact police.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8361 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Main image: Santander Eccles remained closed after the attempted armed robbery
