24/05/2004

'Professional gang' behind Makro robbery

More than £1 million worth of cigarettes, alcohol and electrical goods have been stolen following a robbery at a wholesale store on the outskirts of Belfast.

Police say a "professional gang" carried out the raid, at the Makro cash-and-carry premises at Kingsway in Dunmurry.

Staff were tied-up and locked in a room during the raid which took place between 9pm and 10pm on Sunday.

At least seven men are believed to have been involved in the robbery during which a 40-foot lorry was used to make off with the goods.

Staff members were eventually freed by firefighters several hours after the incident and were unharmed.

Police said that unless they had received a call or the alarm had been triggered they would have no knowledge that a raid was in progress.

(MB)

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