POLICE are investigating a potential link between a car theft and a spate of burglaries in counties Armagh and Down.
On Friday evening around 10pm, business premises in Thomas Street, Armagh, were broken into and the shutters damaged. A black Citroen Dispatch parked in the area was also stolen.
Just over three hours later, at around 1.15am, two men broke into a house in the Flagstaff Court area of Newry.
A woman in her 40s was knocked to the ground but was not injured. Police said a number of other people in the house were left "badly shaken".
At around 2am, it was reported that a black Citroen Dispatch failed to stop for police on the Ganna Way area of Warrenpoint.
It made off towards Newry before crossing the border at the Old Dublin Road, and is still missing.
Shortly before 3.20am, a number of men burgled a shop in the Forkhill Road area of Newry, damaging the front door and making off with cigarettes.
Detective Sergeant Ritchie said: “Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, we are investigating a potential link between all of these incidents."
Police appealed for information.
