Police Appeal For Witnesses To Robberies In Belfast And Rostrevor

Detectives in Belfast have issued an appeal for witnesses following an armed robbery at a shop on Suffolk Road on Saturday, 24 February. 

At about 7.45pm, two men, one carrying a hammer and one carrying a knife entered the shop and threatened a member of staff and demanded money from the till. They made off with a sum of cash along with a third male who was waiting outside citywards on Glen Road in the direction of Lenadoon.

They are described as being aged in their late teens. The male with the hammer was wearing a black North Face jacket with a grey hooded top underneath, navy bobble hat with grey bobble and neon orange stripe around the turn up, dark bottoms and dark coloured trainers. The male with the knife was wearing a bright blue woolen hat with red square logo on the front, dark grey jacket or hooded top zipped right up over his face, light grey coloured jogging bottoms and dark trainers with a white sole. The third male was wearing a 2 tone grey/black jacket, dark coloured beanie hat, dark bottoms and light grey trainers.

Detective Sergeant Keith Wilson is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact detectives in Musgrave Police Station on 101 quoting reference 1137 of 24/02/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.

Elsewhere, detectives in Co Down have issued appeal for witnesses following a burglary of a house in the Cloughmore Park area of Rostrevor on Friday evening, 23 February. 

It was reported that at around 7.15pm a man, aged in his 70's, entered his sister's house and disturbed two unknown males inside the property.

One of the men is described as being approximately 5' 7" tall, of stocky build, with short hair and clean shaven. He was wearing a light blue zip up hooded top. The second male was taller and slimmer. Following a struggle the two males made off on foot with a sum of cash. The man sustained a cut to his head as a result of the incident. His sister, also aged in her 70's, was not injured during the incident.

Detective Sergeant Johnston is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact detectives in Ardmore Police Station on 101 quoting reference 1132 of 23/02/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.

(MH)