THREE youths were arrested on suspicion of robbery after two schoolboys were threatened with weapons in Shoebury at the weekend.

In two separate incidents, a lone teenager was targeted by two thugs.

The first attack happened in the High Street when a 14-yearold boy was threatened with a knife and had £10 stolen from him, justbefore1pm on Saturday.

Less than an hour later,a15- year-old boy was threatened by two teenagers with what was believed to have been a fake gun, possibly an airgun, in Constable Way.

He was told to empty his pockets by the crooks, who fled with his two mobile phones.

The police helicopter was sent up to look for them.

A spokesman for the force helicopter tweeted at the time: “1430hrs–Shoebury–Search for suspect from a robbery.

“Area cleared. Investigation ongoing.”

Three teenagers were arrested at a property in Shoebury over the incidents just before 5pm on Saturday