A man has been robbing lone women at knife point across the borough.

Haringey police are putting more officers on the street to try and catch the armed robber, who is believed to have attacked six women in two weeks.

In each robbery, a woman on her own has been approached late at night by a black man, thought to be 30 years old, who has aggressively snatched her handbag before escaping. On three of the five occasions, the man threatened the women with a knife.

In the latest attack yesterday, a woman in her 20s was approached from behind in Crescent Road, Crouch End, shortly after 8pm. She was threatened with a knife before her bag was stolen.

The first victim two weeks ago, a woman in her 30s, was injured when the suspect held a knife to her neck before he snatched her bag, in Onslow Gardens, Muswell Hill , on September 2, shortly before 11pm.

Five days later a 50-year-old woman was approached from behind by the man just two roads away in Woodland Rise who again aggressively demanded she hand over her bag.

On September 10 the suspect struck again in Muswell Hill, in Park Avenue North at 10pm, struggling with a woman in her 40s before making off with her bag.

The last two attacks happened on September 13 just a few hours apart in Upper Tollington Park, Stroud Green, and Crescent Road, Highgate. Both women in their 20s were threatened with a knife while the man stole their bags.

Detective Sergeant Noel Stoddart of Haringey's Robbery Squad said: "We are investigating six robberies on the West of the borough against lone females. The offences took place after 8pm into the early hours and the suspect descriptions are very similar.

"We urge people to be alert to their surroundings, travel with friends if possible and keep to well lit areas.

"Additional police patrols are being tasked to the area and we are doing all that we can to identify and arrest the perpetrator swiftly.

"If you have any information that may assist, please don't hesitate to contact us."

The suspect is described as being a black man about 30 years old, slim to medium build with a bad complexion.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DS Noel Stoddart of Haringey's Robbery Squad on 020 8345 0885 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A man has been arrested but the investigation is ongoing.