Two assaulted during city robberies

Police in south Belfast have appealed for information following a spate of incidents in the city centre this morning.

At around 7am, two men entered a premises on the Stranmillis Road area of the city and made off with a quantity of cigarettes.

When the owner of the shop confronted the thieves, he was assaulted and one of the men threatened him with a knife.

The robbers are described as being aged in their 20s, the first man is said to be around 5'7" in height, with short fair, sandy coloured hair.

He was wearing a navy coloured fleece, black tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe, and white trainers.

The second man is described as being around 5'10", and was wearing a black top and a yellow t-shirt with the letters JKL printed in black on the front, and a light coloured baseball cap.

A short time later, two males – both dressed in black and armed with a metal bar, robbed a premises in the nearby Ormeau Road, before making off in a red coloured vehicle.

Shortly after this, a woman who was making her way along the Great Patrick Street area of the city, was approached by three males who dragged her into the road, before stealing her handbag then making off in what is believed to have been a silver coloured Honda Civic.

A car matching this description was later spotted driving at speed in the York Street/Great Patrick Street area with three male occupants – one armed with a crowbar.

Police believe the incidents to be linked and have appealed to anyone who may have any information in connection with them to contact detectives at Musgrave Street on 0845 600 8000, or anonymously on the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

(EF)