Staff at three Northern Ireland shops left traumatised after a gun was held to their heads in armed robberies this morning
A handgun was put to the head of a shop worker in Coagh this morning during the first of a series of armed robberies in Mid Ulster.
Detectives are investigating three armed robberies at shops in Ballyronan, Coagh and Clonoe this morning.
They say the first robbery at a filling station on the Ballinderry Bridge Road in Coagh took place at around 6.50am when two masked men armed with a handgun entered the store and threatened staff.
The armed robber ‘placed a weapon to the head of one man forcing him to open the till’ before making off with a sum of cash.
The pair were travelling in a vehicle driven by a third man.
During the second robbery, at a supermarket on Shore Road in Ballyronan just before 7am, two men armed with a handgun, threatened staff ‘again putting the weapon to the head of one staff member, before making off with cash and a quantity of cigarettes’.
And a short time later, a third armed robbery was reported on Moor Road in Clonoe.
Again the shop was robbed at gunpoint, with the suspects again making off with cash.
Detective Inspector Handley said: “We believe the vehicle used by the robbers, a blue Audi A6, was stolen early this morning from outside an address in Portadown whilst the vehicle had been left running to warm up.
"It was subsequently found on fire at Drumcree Community Centre at around 8.40am.
"Thankfully no one was injured during any of these robberies however staff have been left understandably shocked by the ordeal they experienced.
"Anyone with any information or who may have captured CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage that could assist investigators, is asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting reference 201 30/01/25. Information can also be submitted online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ .”
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org “.
Condemning the incidents, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said the robberies were “disgraceful”.
"We shouldn’t forget these are independent retailers that go above and beyond to serve their local community,” he said.
"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 is specified in the forthcoming Sentencing Bill.”