The armed robbery of a post office van in west Belfast has been described as "an attack on the entire community".
A postal worker was removing items from the rear of the van at Ross Road, off Falls Road, when he was approached by a man armed with a knife.
The hijacker forced the employee to walk away from the van before driving off in the vehicle.
The van was later located in Valleyside Close prompting a security alert that lasted hours. The incident happened at around 10.30am on Tuesday.
The hijacker, who is believed to be aged in his mid-twenties, is described being 5ft 6in tall and skinny.
He was wearing a black hooded top, possibly with a logo on the chest, and red knee length football type shorts.
Sinn Féin assembly member Fra McCann said the theft the van which contained "mail for local residents is an attack on the entire community".
"The fact that they used a knife to threaten the driver shows the depths these people will go in an attempt to make money," he said.
"It is not that many years ago that companies like the post office, NIE and other contractors were reluctant to deliver or carry out work in the Falls area so we need to ensure this does not happen again and this can only happen when we stand up and say we have had enough.
"I would urge any one who has information on this attack and robbery to pass this onto the PSNI or a local community representative so these people can be stopped attacking our community."
