TWO men have been arrested following three armed robberies in the Mid Ulster area.
Detective Sergeant Robinson said two masked men threatened staff in three commercial premises on Thursday morning - in the Ballyronan, Coagh and Clonoe areas.
Detective Sergeant Robinson said: “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.
Detectives later carried out searches at properties in the Churchill Park area of Portadown.
Two men, aged in their 30s and 50s, were arrested on suspicion of several offences connected with the investigation - with an electronic device also seized for forensic examination.
Both men have been taken to police custody for questioning.
Staff members faced gunpoint terror during series of armed robberies at three Mid Ulster shops this morning. Armed raiders targeted stores in Clonoe, Ballyronan and Coagh within hours, holding weapons to workers' heads before fleeing in stolen Audi later found burned out.
— The Irish News (@irish_news) January 30, 2025
Mid… pic.twitter.com/cZZK8MNRQ1
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Linda Dillon, Mid Ulster Sinn Féin MLA, had spoken with staff and the shop owner at Lynch’s Eurospar in Clonoe and said it was a “deeply traumatising” event.
“This is deeply, deeply, traumatising for the staff here. I’ve spoken to them this morning and they really are shook up,” Ms Dillon said.
“Standing with people with guns in your face is not a nice experience for anyone to suffer. All of these staff are local people and this community will rally around them.
Anyone with relevant information or footage has been asked to call 101, quoting reference 201 of January 30.
Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
