Northern Ireland

Elderly residents robbed by intruders wielding pitchforks

Police have appealed for information.
Police have appealed for information. Police have appealed for information.

Detectives investigating an aggravated burglary, during which men armed with pitchforks and metal poles entered a house in the Corgary Road area of Castlederg have appealed for information.

Three masked men entered the property at around 9.45pm, on Tuesday, threatening two men aged in their 60s and 70s and a woman also aged in her 60s .

The two men were forced to lie down on the floor on their stomachs while one of the intruders stood over them with a metal pole.

The men challenged one the robbers and managed to take the pole off the suspect who then fled along with his two accomplices.

A sum of money and three mobile phones were stolen.

Two suspects are described as being of skinny build and one described of being of a heavy build.

PSNI Detective Sergeant Jack said it was "an horrific ordeal for the victims".

"This happened late last night in their home; somewhere they deserve to feel safe and they have understandably been left shaken.

"Every piece of information is vital as it could be the key to catching the perpetrators."