POLICE are currently investigating a terrifying robbery at a bookmakers in West Moors.

On Wednesday evening, a man armed with a meat cleaver or large kitchen knife threatened staff at Ladbrokes in Station Road.

He stole cash from the safe before fleeing the scene.

Bookies have long been targets for armed raiders, with several people jailed in Dorset over the last few years for robberies at premises including Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred.

In 2016, Scotland Yard's Flying Squad, which deals with serious violent crime, said reliance on large cash transactions in lightly staffed shops had led to surge in crime at bookmakers.

Almost 40 per cent of all serious crime against businesses in London targeted betting shops in 2015, according to the squad's figures.

In November last year, a man robbed Betfred in Commercial Road, Bournemouth. He threatened a female cashier with a large kitchen knife and escaped with £2,240.

He then jumped into a taxi in Avenue Road.

The previous week, a man armed with a knife threatened staff at Coral in Oakdale Road, Poole. No-one was physically injured in this attack, but an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.

In November 2016, a robber who threatened terrified staff with an axe at Coral in Columbia Road was jailed for seven years.

Gavin Horwood waved the axe above his head and two members of staff who were counting money at the counter fled to the rear of the store, taking most of the money with them.

Horwood then climbed over the counter and stole £600 from the remaining cash while a second man, who was never identified, stood in the doorway. They fled the scene.

In January 2015, masked robber Ben Beck was jailed for three years after robbing Ladbrokes in Portman Terrace, Southbourne.

He had jumped over the counter and threatened the manager with a bat held over his head before making off with £900 in cash.

In August 2014, a hammer-wielding robber who held up three bookmakers in three consecutive days was jailed for 12 years.

The crimes saw David Hinde extort nearly £1,500 from Ladbrokes and Coral stores in Bournemouth and a Ladbrokes in Hampshire. In one incident he dressed in a suit and wielded a claw hammer. In two others he was armed with a knife.

And in July 2014, a Bournemouth man who attempted to rob Coral in Winton was jailed for five years and three months.

Armed police had swarmed to the bookmakers following reports a man wielding a gun entered the store demanding money.

Anthony Joseph O’Toole pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery but denied another charge of having an imitation firearm.