TWO men wearing face masks threatened a security van driver with a weapon before stealing a box of cash.

Officers say the robbery took place outside KFC in Antelope Park in Thornhill, Southampton, on Thursday.

Now police are linking it to three similar incidents in Southampton in recent weeks.

It comes after police were called to reports of a robbery outside KFC in Antelope Park, Bursledon Road, yesterday between 3pm and 3.15pm.

Two men wearing face coverings and crash helmets approached a G4S driver as he made his way from KFC back to his van.

The men threatened the driver with a weapon and demanded the cash box.

The two men stole the cash box from the back of the van before making off on a motorbike.

Officers are also linking this to three other cash-in-transit incidents.

The first incident took place at around 10.50am on Thursday, 6 February outside Barclays bank on Burgess Road in Southampton.

Two men on a motorcycle approached a G4S security guard outside Barclays bank and demanded the cash box.

It was handed over but was empty and the men threw the box to the ground before making off on the motorbike.

The second incident took place around 1.50pm on Friday, February 7, outside Southampton City College in St Mary’s Street.

Two men approached a G4S security guard on a motorbike and demanded the cash box.

The men grabbed the box containing a quantity of cash before making off on the motorbike.

A third incident took place just before 1.45pm on Monday, February 17 at the Tesco petrol station on West End Road.

Two men on a motorbike attempted to grab a cash box off a G4S security guard as he made his way from the petrol station back to his van.

A member of the public intervened and the two men made off on the motorbike empty handed.

A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: "If you witnessed anything suspicious or have any CCTV, dash cam footage or any information in relation to any of these incidents, please call 101 and quote 44200074930.

"Alternatively, people can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and leave information anonymously."