Police are hunting this chubby robber who raided a shop but struggled to open the door to escape – before blocking his own exit with a stack of plastic trolleys.
The thief was captured on CCTV threatening two female members of staff with a large kitchen knife before demanding cash from the till.
But when the shop assistant struggled to open the till the yob tried to escape but was unable to run away after the door appeared to have become jammed.
The video of the botched raid shows the lardy thief desperately yanking the door handle with both hands before it finally flings open.
He then knocks down a stack of plastic trolleys to wedge the door open but manages to send them toppling across the shop entrance almost trapping himself inside.
But the thief managed to snatch some cash from the till before running away.
The raid took place at McColls newsagents on Oakwood Road, Lincoln, at 9.15pm on Tuesday (12/4).
Lincolnshire Police believe the same robber – who wore tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie – also held up a Co-op store in Queen Elizabeth Road, Lincoln, on March 13.
On that occasion, the thief raided the shop with an accomplice before they both fled on bicycles which they had left propped up outside.
Detective Chief Inspector Diane Coulson said: “We hope that by releasing these images we can help trigger the memories of people who may have been in the area and may have witnessed any of these incidents or seen anybody in the area acting in a way that seemed suspicious or out of character.
“We believe that the robbery on Queen Elizabeth Road and one in Oakwood Avenue may be linked and we are investigating any possible links with the other incidents.
“The staff members who have been confronted by these individuals haven’t been physically hurt but they have understandably been left fearful and shaken up.
“That is simply not acceptable. Nobody should be made to feel fearful in their place of work.”
Police are also investigating a further three raids which have taken place in shops in the last month.
