News

Pensioners threatened during separate robberies

The PSNI is investigating a burglary in Lisburn, Co Antrim
The PSNI is investigating a burglary in Lisburn, Co Antrim The PSNI is investigating a burglary in Lisburn, Co Antrim

TWO pensioners have been targeted and threatened in separate robberies at their homes.

A man in his 70s was tied to a chair and threatened with a set of hedge trimmers and a pair of cutters during a burglary in Lisburn, Co Antrim, on Friday.

In a separate incident a man in his 80s was also "badly shaken" following a burglary at his home in Bessbrooke, Co Armagh, on the same day.

The Lisburn victim was attacked after returning to his home in the Old Hillsborough Road area at around 5.30pm.

Police say he was bundled into the house by two men before being kicked and pushed off a chair.

He was then tied to the leg of the chair as one of the men searched his house.

The pair threatened to injure the terrified victim with hedge trimmers and a pair of serrated cutters.

They later made off from the property with a sum of cash, a watch and the man’s car - a grey Toyota Rav 4.

A spokesman for the PSNI said: “The older man managed to free himself and raised the alarm at a neighbour’s house at around 6.10pm.

“Although he was not physically hurt in the incident, he was left badly shaken by what happened.”

The second victim was targeted after entry was forced into the property in the Millvale Park area of Bessbrook shortly before 7.50pm on Friday by two men who confronted him.

The pair left empty-handed a short time later in a dark hatchback-type vehicle, similar in size to an Audi A3 or Volkswagen Golf.

Police have said the occupant was badly shaken but was not physically injured.

Both men are described as approximately 5ft 8in tall with one wearing a light-coloured hooded top, tracksuit bottoms and white trainers, and the other had on a black beanie-style hat, a short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and white trainers.

Meanwhile, police officers investigating a robbery in Portrush have charged two people aged 22 and 16.

The man and youth were arrested relation to robbery at commercial premises in the Dunluce area of Portrush on Friday.

They were both expected to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Saturday.