Northern Ireland

Robbers armed with knife and hammer steal cash from shop in west Belfast

Two men armed with a knife and a hammer entered a shop on the Suffolk Road in west Belfast
Two men armed with a knife and a hammer entered a shop on the Suffolk Road in west Belfast Two men armed with a knife and a hammer entered a shop on the Suffolk Road in west Belfast
  • STAFF at a shop in west Belfast have been confronted by robbers armed with a knife and a hammer.

Two men entered the shop on Suffolk Road at around 7.45pm on Saturday and threatened a member of staff and demanded money.

They made off with cash, along with a third man who was waiting outside, along Glen Road in the direction of Lenadoon. All three are described as in their late teens.

  • Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man is due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court today charged with robbery, burglary and possession of class B and C controlled drugs.

The man was arrested following the armed robbery of a shop on the Ballyholme Road in Bangor before 6pm on Friday.

Staff were threatened with a hammer, with cash and tobacco stolen.

The man was arrested in connection with this and a separate burglary of a jewellers on Main Street in Bangor on Saturday.

  • Elsewhere in Co Down, a brother and sister, aged in their 70s, were subjected to a burglary at a house in Rostrevor.

At around 7.15pm on Friday, the man entered his sister's house on the Cloughmore Road and disturbed two intruders.

The pensioner sustained a cut to the head during a struggle with the men who made off with cash. His sister was not injured.

  • In Co Antrim, a car was stolen from outside a house during a creeper style burglary. It is believed entry was gained to the property in Moreland Avenue in Newtownabbey between 1am and 9am on Sunday.

Police in Derry are investigating a possible link following three burglaries and an attempted burglary on Friday.

A gold engagement ring was among the items stolen in the Mount Vernon area between 6.30pm and 7pm.

  • Another property in the Woodbrook area was targeted between 7.15pm and 10.15pm. Cash and jewellery were taken.

Between 7.30pm and 7.50pm, entry was forced to a house in the Drummond Park area and a handbag containing cash and bank cards was stolen.

  • A window of a house in Portlock Place was damaged at around 7.30pm and it was reported that there was also an attempt to break-in.