A staff member sustained an arm injury after two men escaped with cash in a robbery at a shop on Mountpottinger Road in east Belfast this afternoon (Sunday).
One of the men approached the counter to pay for an item and, when the cash register was opened, the second man leapt over the counter and put his hand in the till drawer to grab money.
The incident happened around 1pm this afternoon.
A struggle ensued between the suspect and a staff member during which the employee sustained an arm injury, police say.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Gardiner said: “We received a report shortly after 1:30pm that approximately 30 minutes earlier two men entered a shop on Mountpottinger Road.
“The suspects fled with a sum of money and got into a car outside the shop, possibly a red-coloured Renault Megane,” he said.
One of the suspects is described as being aged in his late 20s, with short ginger hair, tall and of a heavy build. He wore a green jacket that had two white stripes across the body.
The second suspect is believed to be his 20s, shorter than the other suspect, of average build and with dark hair. He was wearing a black jacket, grey track bottoms and black trainers with white stripes.
“This was an extremely traumatic ordeal for the staff member who, while doing her job, suffered a frightening experience. No one should have to endure this type of ordeal.
“I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area just prior to 1pm and until 1:15pm and saw two men matching the description of the suspects acting suspiciously, or who believes they saw the a vehicle matching that reported to have been used by the suspects, to get in touch with us.
“Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call detectives at Musgrave on 101, quoting reference 931 of 09/06/19,” added the Detective Sergeant.
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.