A robber thought to be behind a raid in Roehampton was chased through the back gardens of a quiet Southfields neighbourhood last week, it is claimed.

Officers gave chase on foot and in a police helicopter as they searched for the culprit who targeted a security guard outside Asda on Roehampton Vale last Wednesday, July 8.

However, they were unable to catch the robber.

Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed the attack at the cash machine in the supermarket at 2.45pm, the third violent robbery in four months in the area.

As the security van pulled up outside Asda, a man got out of a silver BMW and pushed the guard to the floor and grabbed the cash box.

He got back in the car and drove south down the A3.

The BMW was later found abandoned in Wimbledon Village and the cash box was empty.

Police say the security guard sustained cuts and bruises but was not seriously injured.

Residents in Southfields claim that later that afternoon a man was seen fleeing through people’s back gardens, while a police helicopter hovered overhead.

And other residents say roads around Victoria Drive were cordoned off and a “high number” of police officers were patrolling the area.

However, police have refused to confirm this.

The robbery echoes follows raid that in exactly the same place April when a security guard was attacked with a cosh-like weapon.

Another security van was targeted in March outside the post office in Danebury Avenue.

A police spokesman said: “Detectives from the Flying Squad are investigating a robbery which took place in Wandsworth at 2.45pm on Wednesday July 8 at an Asda supermarket in Roehampton Vale.

"Fortunately the security guard was unhurt and the cashbox was empty.”

If you saw anything suspicious at Asda contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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