Shop staff workers were left badly shaken after two masked men fled with a sum of money and a quantity of cigarettes from premises in east Belfast.
A shop worker was grabbed by the throat in the incident which occurred last night (Tuesday) just after 10pm.
Police say the two men who were wearing masks and gloves, entered the shop on the Gilnahirk Road around 10pm.
One of the suspects is described as being aged in his mid-thirties. He grabbed a shop worker by the throat and forced him to get down on the ground.
When a second staff member attempted to raise the alarm, she was threatened with a hammer.
The suspects fled from the store with a sum of money and a quantity of cigarettes.
The first suspect is described as being 6ft tall and of medium build. He is reported to have been wearing a mask over his mouth and eyes, a dark-coloured hoodie with the hood up and dark ‘Adidas’ bottoms with three stripes down the side.
The second suspect is described as being smaller and of a slimmer build. He was reported as being aged in his mid-forties and was wearing a dark hooded top with the hood-up. He wore a mask that had horizontal stripes and dark ‘Adidas’ track bottoms that had stripes on the outside of the legs from below the knee.
Detective Sergeant Dave Stewart said this must have been a frightening and distressing ordeal for the staff members who, while not physically injured, have been left badly shaken.
“I want to appeal to anyone who has information about this incident, or who saw two males matching the description of the suspects in the area around 10pm to call us on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1508 of 14/05/19,” he added.
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