HELP catch these dangerous robbers. This is the plea from Dorset Police who are calling on anyone with information about these terrifying robberies to call them now.

Police have made public appeals to identify people they believe can help their investigations and we are re-printing some of them in a bid to solve the crimes and put the thugs responsible behind bars.

Among the offences have included a 76-year-old attacked and robbed in her home in Highcliffe and a security guard punched and robbed as he delivered cash to Tuckton post office in Bournemouth.

Thieves have also raided a number of businesses including Coral Bookmakers in Castle Lane West, Bournemouth; Flicks video shop on Christchurch Road, Bournemouth; Barclays Bank in Wallisdown; the Cheque Centre on Christchurch Road, Boscombe; and C&J Stores on Winston Avenue, Branksome.

One woman said she felt utter terror after she was held at gunpoint by a man who got into her car outside Morrisons in Verwood and said: “Give me everything you've ******* got.”

Chief Inspector John Gately, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said the force has a dedicated team set up to deal with robberies and is calling on anyone with information about the crimes featured here today to get in touch.

Dorset Police figures reveal that robbery offences in the county fell by 29.4 per cent last year from 177 between April 1, 2011, and December 11, 2011, to 125 this year.

Just over a quarter of robberies were detected - 26.4 per cent - a small rise from the 22.6 per cent solved the previous year.

Chief Inspector John Gately, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said: “Robberies are a priority area for Dorset Police and we take this type of crime very seriously.

“We have dedicated staff working on this type of crime, including specially trained investigators and analysts.

“This has been a contributory factor in extensively reducing the number of robberies in the county over the past 12 months.

“During November 2012, which proved to be our most successful month, suspects for a total of eight different robberies were brought to justice.

“The most successful increase in detection rates was in the Bournemouth East area, where this has doubled.

“Of course we will not become complacent and we will continue to work tirelessly to put offenders behind bars.

“We would urge members of the public to provide us with any information they have about any of these types of offences.”

A 76-year-old woman was brutally attacked and robbed in her own home on January 6, 2012. A man forced his way into her house in Bluebell Close, Highcliffe, and stole her handbag. He was described as aged 18-20, white, of slim build and wearing black clothing. Incident: 6:119.

A man robbed a security officer as he collected cash from Tesco Express in Shillingstone Drive, Muscliffe, Bournemouth, on January 31, 2012. A significant amount of money was stolen and the offender was driven away in a dark green hatchback car. Incident: 31:129.

A 69-year-old man was robbed by two men armed with a BB gun in Langdon Road, Parkstone, at 11.20pm on February 28, 2012. They made off with the victim's wallet. Both men were described as of Asian appearance and aged in their late 20s. Incident: 28:507.

A security guard was robbed as he delivered cash to Tuckton post office on Tuckton Road, Bournemouth on March 14, 2012. The guard was punched to the ground and the offender made off with a significant amount of cash in a small, dark coloured Ford Focus. Incident: 14:117.

Two boys aged 14 and 15 were assaulted and robbed on Christchurch Road in Bournemouth by two men on June 2. The first offender is described as white and in his 20s. The second was black and also in his mid 20s and was wearing a dark hoodie. Incident: 2:35.

A man entered Hengistbury Head post office armed with a handgun at 9.20am on Monday June 18, 2012, and demanded cash. He was chased away by the father of the family-run business. The offender is described as white, of slim build and scruffy appearance. He left the scene in a small green or turquoise vehicle. Incident: 18:90.

Two security guards were attacked in a robbery on a cash delivery van outside Nationwide Building Society in Ashley Road, Parkstone, on September 3, 2012. Two offenders, armed with a blade and heavy instrument, made off with a quantity of cash. Incident: 3:496.

A man entered Natwest Bank on Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, on October 24, 2012, and threatened staff. No one was injured and no money was taken. Incident: 24:188.

A masked man demanded money and threatened cashiers at Barclay's Bank in Bryant Road, off Wallisdown Road, on December 6, 2012. A 39-year-old man from Bournemouth was arrested and released on bail. Incident: 6:227.

A woman threatened a female member of staff with a gun at Coral bookmakers in Castle Lane West in Bournemouth on Sunday December 23, 2012. She had blonde wavy hair and was wearing two-inch heels. Incident: 23:368.

An armed man threatened a woman as she got into her car outside Morrisons supermarket in Chiltern Drive, Verwood, on Friday January 4 this year. Police released an efit in a bid to catch the offender. Incident no: 04:104.

A man entered the Cheque Centre on Christchurch Road in Boscombe on Monday February 18, threatened a member of staff before making off with a large amount of money. Police released two CCTV images of a man they'd like to speak to. Incident no: 18:335.

A member of staff was threatened by a man wielding a knife at C&J Stores on Winston Avenue, Branksome, at around 8.45pm on Tuesday March 5. He left the scene with a quantity of money. Incident no: 5:492.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call Dorset Police on 101 quoting the relevant incident number, or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

ROBBERS BEHIND BARS

Stephen Thomas Jamieson, 20, was jailed for eight years in December for raping and sexually abusing a pensioner during a terrifying robbery in his bedroom in Charminster on January 25, 2012. Jamieson attacked the 68-year-old when he refused to hand over his bank PIN numbers.

London gang member Oladapo Obadare, 20, was locked up for eight years in November after carrying out a terrifying robbery at Forum Jewellers on the Broadway in Broadstone on September 11, 2012. He was caught after detectives found his blood on smashed display cabinets. A 22-year-old man from London and 23-year-old woman from Poole have been arrested and released on police bail until March.

Yunus Patel, 43, from Churchill Road, Poole, was jailed for four years in April, 2012, for carrying out an armed raid at the Spar shop at Upton Triangle the previous month. He was brought to justice after a CCTV picture showing his face appeared in the Daily Echo.

Getaway driver Carl Morling, 44, was jailed for five years for his part in a robbery on a G4S security van as it made a deposit to the Nationwide in Christchurch on January 14, 2012. He was waiting in a car while his accomplice snuck inside the bank and brandished a claw hammer to steal £16,000.

Christopher Sims, 36, was jailed for three years this month for robbing a 57-year-old woman while she slept. Sims forced his way into her house on Browning Avenue in Bournemouth during the early hours of Christmas Eve 2012. He assaulted the terrified woman when she woke and fled the scene with her mobile phone.