A 28 year old man was arrested by Bridgend detectives within an hour of an appeal being broadcast on Wednesday night’s BBC Crimewatch programme – the first to be broadcast from Cardiff.
The man was wanted in connection with an armed robbery of Ladbrokes Betting Office, New Road, Porthcawl which occurred on Thursday July 15th last year.
The suspect entered the betting office carrying a black handled kitchen knife and threatened the two staff requesting that they give him money. He entered the staff area behind the counter and removed several hundred pounds before leaving the store.
Detective Constable Justin Lott of Bridgend CID said: “Once the appeal for information was broadcast, we received over 40 calls and more than 30 of those calls named the suspect who was speedily arrested.
“I want to thank the public and Crimewatch for their help in identifying and locating the suspect. He was arrested before the Crimewatch Update programme finished and charged within a few hours and has been remanded before the courts.”
Crimewatch producer Laura Nicklin said: “The BBC’s Crimewatch programme works very closely with the police and has a great track record of successful outcomes to its appeals.
“It is particularly gratifying for producers when viewer calls lead to police action being taken on the very same night the programme is transmitted.”
