Brentwood is the latest target of a gang believed to be responsible for till snatches at McDonald's restaurants in Essex.

Police are appealing for information following the thefts at restaurant on the town's High Street and at the Mountnessing drive-thru on Monday.

Just before 8.40pm, three men entered the High Street restaurant and snatched about £100 from one of the tills, then ran out and headed towards Marks and Spencer.

It is thought they got into a white Triumph and drove out of the High Street along the Chelmsford Road heading towards the junction with the A12.

Minutes later at 8.55pm police were called to the BP service station at Mountnessing roundabout with reports that three men had snatched about £100 from two tills at the drive-thru McDonald's there before driving off.

Acting Sgt Brian Murnaghan from Brentwood Police said: "We believe the two incidents are connected with each other as well as with similar incidents which happened in McDonald's in Romford and Hornchurch over the weekend.

"The descriptions of the suspects are similar. We would like to hear from anyone with information about these men or anyone who saw a vehicle fitting this description in Brentwood High Street or Chelmsford Road between 8.30 and 9pm."

One of the suspects is described as white, 5ft 9in, about 21 years old, wearing a black jumper, beige Armani trousers and black shoes.

The second is described as black, 5ft 7in, also about 21, of stocky build, wearing a black T-shirt, black shell-suit bottoms and a white bandage on his left arm.

The third is described as black, 6ft, of slim build and wearing a sports coat with a hood.

The vehicle has a similar registration to FPU 197G.

Anyone with any information should contact Dc Norman Stone at Brentwood CID on 01277 262212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 . On Monday the burger giant had to issue a public apology after running out of Big Macs. McDonald's had expected to sell a million burgers a day under a promotion to celebrate its 25th anniversary which promised a free Big Mac for every one purchased.

Twice as many customers swamped the fast food giant's 922 nationwide outlets on Monday. Some restaurants were forced to close whilst others suspended the offer.

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