Police hold press conference about Weymouth gunman 4pm today

Dorset Police are holding a press conference at 4 o'clock this afternoon about yesterday's armed robbery in Abbotsbury Road.They have named the suspect as 25-year-old Colin Douglas (pictured) who has a tiger tattooed on his left arm. Anyone who sees him should dial 999 immediately. Detectives are advising members of the public that they should not approach him. Douglas is white, six feet tall, clean shaven with short, dark brown hair. Police say he is wanted on a number of other offences. If you have any other information, contact the Dorset Police incident room in confidence on 0800 0560146.

Police think the suspect’s family or friends might be hiding him and have appealed for them to give him up. Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Stanger said: “I would like to make it clear that anyone found to be helping, harbouring, or in any way aiding Colin Douglas will be arrested. I am appealing to Colin’s friends and family to do the right thing and help us to locate him as soon as possible.”

He added: “Officers continue to search for Colin Douglas and to follow positive lines of enquiry. I understand that he was wearing a cream hooded top with dark stripes running along the arms, a dark coloured striped top underneath, dark coloured trousers and dark shoes with a white motif across the toes.

“He was also wearing a black balaclava and dark gloves at the time of the robbery, although it’s possible that he may have now discarded this clothing.

“If members of the public notice anyone matching this description and anyone hiding or acting in a suspicious or unusual way, then I would urge them to call us straight away.

No-one was injured during the incident, which began at 3.40pm yesterday, Wednesday, 2 March 2011, with police receiving a report of an armed robbery at the Post Office along Abbotsbury Road.

A quantity of money, the amount of which is not being released, was stolen.

Officers, assisted by the Force helicopter and armed colleagues, immediately attended and an offender – believed to be Douglas – made off in a red Nissan Almera.

A police officer then confronted the offender in the vehicle and was threatened with a firearm. No shots were fired.

Subsequently, the offender stopped and threatened a Weymouth woman, along Lanehouse Rocks Road, and stole her black Saab convertible.

Both vehicles and a firearm were later recovered.

Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Stanger continued: “High-visibility patrols are in place in and around the Weymouth and Portland areas and officers from Safer Neighbourhood Teams are liaising with our partners and local schools in order to provide reassurance.”