A member of staff at an east Belfast takeaway has threatened with a hammer during a robbery which may linked to a similar incident in the area.
The business on the Newtownards Road was targeted at around 7pm on Friday.
PSNI Detective Sergeant McCartan said the suspect threatened an employee with a hammer before demanding that they hand over money.
The assailant then damaged the till and made off towards the city with a sum of cash.
“The suspect is described as approximately 6ft tall, and wearing an orange / red face covering.” DS McCartan added:
“Our enquiries are underway and anyone who saw a man matching this description, or who captured CCTV or dash-cam footage in the area at the relevant time, is asked to contact 101, quoting reference number 1506 15/11/24.
“We are investigating a potential link between this robbery and an earlier report that shortly before 7am on Friday morning a masked man had entered a shop on the Newtownards Road and threatened a male staff member with a knife.”
During the second incident the shop worker was was ordered to hand over a sum of cash and cigarettes.
The suspect, described as being approximately 6’ tall, of medium build and was wearing a hooded top, then fled on foot in the direction of the city centre.