Other News In Brief

Police Appeal Over East Belfast Armed Robbery

Police in east Belfast have appealed for information after a shop on the Belmont Church Road was robbed by two men with a firearm.

At about 07:00 on Saturday morning, 14 February, two men, one armed with a suspected firearm, entered the premises and threatened two members of staff. Money and cigarettes were handed over to the men in two recycling boxes and a white bag.

The first man is described as wearing a grey and black jacket with a horizontal white stripe, a red and white balaclava, blue jeans, trainers and black gloves.

The second wore a black jacket with the hood up, a baseball cap, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers, with a scarf covering his face.

The PSNI said it also received a report of two men in a red BMW 5 series acting suspiciously near a newsagent shop on the Holywood Road twenty minutes before the robbery took place.

Anyone with any information can contact CID at Musgrave on 101. Information can also be passed anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Three Arrested Over L'Derry Burglary

Two men and a woman have been arrested in L'Derry on suspicion of burglary.

The men are aged 30 and 31 and the woman is aged 36.

The arrests followed a report of a number of people entering a flat in the Strand Road area of the city and taking a laptop at about 22:00 on Saturday 14 February.

Detective Inspector David McQuade said: "In a follow up search at a property in the Georges Street area, the laptop computer was recovered and a quantity of cannabis plants and cultivating equipment was discovered. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis at the scene. All currently remain in custody helping police with enquiries."

Petrol Bomb Thrown At Carrickfergus Property

Police have begun investigating an arson attack at a house in Edenvale Avenue in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, on the evening of Friday 13 February.

At about 23:30 it was reported to police that a petrol bomb was thrown at the front door of a house in the area. The door was set alight and the two occupants, a woman in her 30s and a boy, were helped to safety by neighbours.

Two males were then seen running in the direction of a nearby primary school. It is believed they then drove off in a small, dark-coloured car in the direction of Trailcock Road. One of the males wore a green Parka style coat with fur trimmed hood and the other a hooded top. Both were described as being less than 5’10” tall and of slim build.

Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area or who has any information is asked to contact CID at Newtownabbey on 101. Information can also be passed anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ormeau Off-License Robbed At Knife-Point

Police are investigating an armed robbery at an off license on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast on Sunday 15 February.

A man entered the shop armed with a knife at about 21:15 on Sunday 15 February. He threatened staff and demanded money before fleeing with a sum of cash from the tills.

The robber is described as around 6ft in height, slim with short dark hair. He was wearing a red 'puffa jacket', a pair of dark blue jeans, black and white shoes, a khaki coloured hat with long ear warmers and a pair of brown rimmed glasses.

Police are looking to speak to a man who it is thought gave chase to the robber immediately after the incident. He is believed to have been in a van across the road from the store.

Detectives can be contacted at Musgrave CID offices by calling the non-emergency number 101.

The Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(IT/MH)