A man in a delivery van was robbed of cigarettes and tobacco by three masked men in Templepatrick this morning (Friday, 13 November).
The incident happened at approximately 7.15am. The suspected getaway vehicles were later found on fire.
The man was in his delivery van at a filling station in a shopping centre on the Antrim Road, when he was approached by the three masked men. They removed him from his van and threatened him.
The masked men made off with a quantity of cigarettes, tobacco and filters. They left the scene in two vehicles – a red van and a white car which were found on fire at approximately 7.35am.
Firefighters from NIFRS attended a call in relation to a fire at a vacant property on the Ballyrobin Road, Templepatrick. On their arrival they discovered that a white car and red van were on fire. It is believed these vehicles may have been the ones involved in this robbery.
The delivery driver was not injured, however he has been left extremely traumatised.
Detective Sergeant Lyttle is appealing for information.
“I would ask anyone who was parked at the shopping centre or in the filling station this morning and witnessed this incident or anyone who has dashcam footage to contact detectives at Antrim. I would also be keen to speak to anyone who saw either of these vehicles in the surrounding area, particularly in the Ballyrobin Road area of Templepatrick.
“I would appeal to anyone who has any information that could assist police enquiries to contact detectives at Antrim on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 239 13/11/20, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/” he added.