Four men and a women have been arrested following a suspected armed robbery of a cash in transit van at Great Victoria Street, in Belfast City Centre this morning (Tuesday 26 January).
Police received a report at around 8.50am that a security officer had been reportedly assaulted by a man armed with a crow bar.
A cash box was reportedly stolen and the suspects are then believed to have made off from the area in a dark coloured car. The four men, aged 41, 44, and two 40 year olds, and the 52-year-old woman, were arrested a short time later in west Belfast.
Two of the men and the woman were arrested at a property in the Monagh Road area and two were arrested following a collision on the Monagh Bypass. They have been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including robbery and taken to Musgrave station for questioning. The cash box has been located and will be examined in due course.
The security officer was not physically injured but was left badly shaken following the incident.
Detective Inspector Keith Wilson is appealing for anyone who witnessed the robbery or anyone who saw any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area of Great Victoria Street before or shortly after the robbery to contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number 251 26/01/21.
A report can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.