Police investigate series of armed robberies

A number of robberies have been reported across the province over the weekend.

Police are investigating possible links between a series of armed robberies that occurred from 10pm onwards in Lambeg and Belfast on Saturday.

The first incident took place just before 10pm when a man entered a shop at Moss Road, Lambeg, and, after threatening staff with a screwdriver, made off with an amount of cash.

Around 10.10pm, a man, again armed with a screwdriver, entered a garage at Donegall Road, Belfast. Once more, staff were threatened before the robber made off with a sum of cash.

In the third incident, a garage on the Lisburn Road was targeted by a man who also threatened staff with a screwdriver. On this occasion, the man made off empty handed.

In each instance, the robber escaped in a silver grey car, possibly a Vauxhall.

Elsewhere, police in Newry are appealing for information following an armed robbery at a supermarket on the Newry Road, Mayobridge, on Saturday evening.

Two masked men, one of whom was armed a shotgun, entered the shop at around 5.20pm and ordered staff to open the tills.

One till containing a sum of cash was stolen by the robbers who escaped in a small white Peugeot hatchback car which was driven off by a third man.

Although no one was hurt during the robbery, staff were left badly shaken by the experience.

Detectives at Antrim Road are appealing for information following an armed robbery at a supermarket in north Belfast which left a shop assistant shocked and traumatised.

Three men - two of whom were armed with a handgun and a large hunting knife -- entered the shop premises at Ballysillan Road around 4.30pm on Saturday. The third man remained at the door of the store.

A female member of staff was threatened and forced to open a till.

The trio made off on foot with a small amount of cash towards the Glenbryn area.

And police in south Belfast are appealing for information after a number of masked men forced their way into a house in Inishowen Drive, in the Lisburn Road area, during the early hours of Sunday morning.

A number of rooms were ransacked in the incident which occurred around 2.30am.

Although none of the occupants of the house were hurt, the gang set fire to a Ford car parked outside after leaving the premises. The car was destroyed in the fire.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

(GMcG)