Although police cannot say it is the same individual on each occasion a white man wearing what looks like a homemade balaclava has gone into the stores, threatened staff with a knife and demanded money.

He has run off with the cash in a carrier bag.

The first raid happened at Coral in Grange Road in Ramsgate shortly after it opened on Monday morning at 8.30am. The man was the female teller's second customer of the day. He got away with £200.

On Monday night, around 9pm, a man went into Bet Fred in Station Road, Birchington, and asked for money. He showed the assistant a knife. He left the shop

with just under £100.

On Tuesday morning at Coral in Westgate a man did the same thing to the woman behind the counter just after 9am. This time, he got just over £100.

The balaclava has been described by witnesses as black with a circular pattern. It could be a bobble hat with holes cut in it.

The tellers who were confronted say the offender was between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 9ins and had a dark bomber-style jacket with hood and white stripes, dark combat trousers and trainers.

CCTV is being reviewed. It is hoped there may be a clear image of the offender on one of the tapes as it is believed he entered one of the stores without the headgear before returning to rob it.