Woman in 70s left shaken after four homes are burgled within eight hours

A SERIES of aggravated burglaries in Belfast and Newtownards are being investigated by police.

Four break-ins were reported on Tuesday night and the early hours of yesterday morning.

In three of the cases, the suspects were armed.

A PSNI spokesman said that at this stage, the incidents are not being linked.

The first was reported at 8.20pm on Tuesday at a residence in the Castlecoole Park area of south Belfast, when a woman in her 70s was left shaken.

Detective Sergeant McCallum said: “It was reported that two masked men entered a house in the area and went into an upstairs bedroom.

“A woman in her 70s was in the bedroom at the time of the incident and the men demanded money from her.

“The men then left the house empty handed and the female resident was left badly shaken, but not injured.”

A second burglary was reported shortly before 9.20pm at a house in the Archdale Drive area of south Belfast.

Detective Sergeant O’Flaherty said: “It was reported that two men entered a house in the area.

“A woman aged in her 50s was held against a sofa as they proceeded to smash glass to a number of doors inside the property.

“A man aged in his 40s, who was also inside the house, was chased out of the property by the two men and then made off in a car.

“The woman inside the property was not injured but left badly shaken.”

A third incident occurred at a house in the Collingwood Avenue of south Belfast in the early hours of yesterday.

Detective Sergeant O’Flaherty said: “The burglary was reported at around 3.50am.

“A man, armed with a knife, entered the property and subsequently made off with a black Puma bag and a number of electronic items.

“The family, who were home at the time, were not physically harmed. Nonetheless this would have been a terrifying experience for them.

“The male intruder is described as being aged in his 40s, with dark hair and approximately 5ft 8ins.

“He is described as wearing a black jacket with white writing on the sleeve and grey tracksuit bottoms.”

Separately, police are investigating a report of an aggravated burglary at a dwelling in the Moray Crescent area of Newtownards on Tuesday.

Detective Sergeant Miskelly said: “Shortly before 7.15pm, it was reported that two men entered a house in the area, one of whom was armed with a Stanley knife.

“A woman in her 50s had the knife held against her face during the incident, as the men demanded money.

“They pushed the woman against the stairs and ransacked the bedroom.

“The men made off with a sum of money and a quantity of jewellery including some antique medals.

“The man armed with the knife is described as being around 5ft 8ins, medium build, aged in his 20-30s and spoke in a local accent.

“The second man is described as being around 5ft, slim build and wearing dark clothing.”

Police have appealed for anyone with information on any of the incidents to call 101.