Two men have been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies at convenience stores in mid-Ulster, which took place on Thursday (30).
The first incident occurred just before 7am at McCrystal’s Day-Today, a filling station on Ballinderry Bridge Road in Coagh. Two masked men, one wielding a handgun, entered the store and threatened staff, holding a weapon to one man's head before forcing him to open the till.
Shortly after, a second robbery took place at a supermarket on Shore Road in Ballyronan. Again, two armed men threatened staff at gunpoint, placing the firearm to the head of an employee before fleeing with cash and a quantity of cigarettes.
A third armed robbery was later reported at Lynch’s Spar on Moor Road in Clonoe, where the suspects again stole cash before making their escape.
Police Service of Northern Ireland informed, "Staff were threatened by two masked men - and were ordered to hand over a sum of cash.
“A blue Audi A6 – believed to have been used by the suspects, was stolen from outside an address in Portadown and later found on fire at Drumcree Community Centre.
“Tonight, Mid Ulster detectives conducted a number of searches at properties in the Churchill Park area of Portadown. Two men, aged in their 30s and 50s, were arrested on suspicion of a number of offences in connection with the investigation.
"An electronic device was also seized for forensic examination. “They have both been taken to police custody for questioning."
Meanwhile, the incident was slammed by a leading Northern Ireland retailers' body.
Commenting on the three-armed robberies of Retail NI members in Mid Ulster, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said, "“These robberies on our members are utterly disgraceful and if anyone in the local community has any information, please contact the PSNI”.
“We shouldn’t forget these are independent retailers that go above and beyond to serve their local community. Our thoughts are with the staff who have traumatised by these despicable attacks”.
“Retailers are sadly experiencing record levels of assault of shop staff, shoplifting and robberies. It is crucially important that the Department of Justice include the assault of shop staff in the forthcoming Sentencing Bill”.
