Children were left terrified after masked men armed with a suspected firearm broke into a house in Dunmurry last night.
Three men are believed to be behind the ransacking of a house in Lagmore Drive on Monday evening.
It’s understood that three young children were in the house when an occupier was assaulted.
The masked men made off in the family’s blue BMW, which was later found abandoned.
Detectives investigating the report of the aggravated burglary in west Belfast are appealing for witnesses and information.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Gardiner said police received a report at 7:25pm.
“It was reported the suspects also assaulted the same man with what was described as a baseball bat before they fled, taking a blue BMW that was parked outside the address.
“This would have been a frightening ordeal for the occupants of the house who have been left badly shaken.
“Our enquiries are at an early stage, and I want to make a number of appeals today,” said a police spokesperson.
If you were in the Lagmore Drive area last night around the time of the incident, police want to hear from you.
“Did you see any suspicious activity, or any vehicles being driven in a suspicious manner? In particular, did you see a silver-coloured Ford Focus vehicle in the area around this time?” said a police spokesperson.
“If you have any information which you believe may assist our investigation, please get in touch with detectives at Musgrave on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1119 of 17/12/18.”
Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.