Detectives are investigating a possible link between an attempted robbery and a robbery that happened just streets away from each other in South Croydon in the early hours of Monday, August 30.

The first incident, an attempted robbery, saw a 49-year-old man and his 45-year-old girlfriend threatened with a claw hammer in Kingsdown Avenue, at the junction of Brighton Road, just before 2am.

They were approached by two men outside the nearby Smart car showroom and asked for money, but the men walked off empty-handed towards Brighton Road.

Within an hour a 21-year-old man was forced to hand over his wallet when he was threatened by two robbers armed with a claw hammer and an eight-inch knife in Pampisford Road.

Police say the first man is of east European appearance, 5ft 10in, aged between 25 and 30, wearing a white shirt, black waistcoat and dark trousers.

His accomplice is a black man, aged around 30, wearing a dark jumper with white stripes on the bottom.

Anyone with information should call Charlie Timms at South Norwood's robbery squad on 020 8649 1217 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.