A man who holds up travel agents with a knife while dressed as a woman in a burka has been caught on CCTV.
The man, who travels from shop to shop taking 'substantial' amounts of money, was filmed twice in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
Dressed head-to-toe in the Muslim women's outfit, he first threatened two women with a knife on a raid at First Choice travel agents.
The man dressed in a burka as a disguise as he stole 'substantial amounts' of money
The thief dubbed the 'Burka Bandit' was caught on this CCTV film in August 2009 as he robbed
Thomson Travel in Luton, Bedfordshire
Thomson Travel in Luton, Bedfordshire
He was also seen carrying an umbrella but it is unknown if this was another form of disguise or if he used it to threaten his victims.
He forced them into a back room where he demanded cash from the safe.
The first incident happened in July 2009 and the second in May last year but these images were released last week as part of the Crimewatch Roadshow which is currently touring the country.
The second robbery happened at a branch of Thompsons where he threatened a member of staff and a customer, again with a knife.
As with the first robbery, which took place just around the corner from the second, he took the women into a back office and escaped with cash from a safe.
Detective Sergeant Terry David from Bedfordshire police said: 'Witnesses are sure [it was a man] because of the voice, build and mannerisms.'
He added it was difficult for police because officers can't go around lifting people's burkas.
'It is a very concentious issue,' he said. 'A contentious disguise and we think he is deliberately choosing that disguise because of that.
'He could quite possibly strike again.'
During the second armed robbery there was a customer in the travel agents at the time
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