Ballymena Bank Hit In 'Cops And Robbers' Sting

The hunt is on for a bogus cop who dressed as a PSNI officer to rob a Ballymena bank this week.

The man, who was carrying a handgun, held up the bank on the Larne Road in Ballymena.

An undisclosed sum in cash was stolen during the robbery which happened at around 1.00pm on Tuesday.

A PSNI spokesman revealed that the robber even wore high visibility clothing as he held up staff.

The spokesman said: "The robber who was dressed to give the appearance of being a police officer complete with cap, and high visibility jacket held-up staff before making off with an undisclosed sum in a silver Ford Mondeo car bearing the registration NEZ 9904.

"Anyone who was in the area at the time or anyone who noticed the Mondeo car as it drove off in the direction of the Larne Road Roundabout is urged to contact the detectives at Ballymena."

Meanwhile, local police are advising people to be wary of bogus charity boxes that have been found at a number of locations in the Province and which purport to be raising money for a charity - 'People of Africa'.

The boxes are blue in colour, chalice-shaped and have a white label with red script.

Police inquiries to date have not revealed whether such a charity exists, however, last Thursday officers seized 36 of them, many of which had been placed beside tills at premises.

They said that one arrest was made and a man is in custody.

(BMcC)