Call foraction after Belfast shop assistant threatened with knife in latest robbery

RETAILERS have expressed concerns over staff safety after another shop worker was left traumatised following a terrifying robbery in Belfast at the weekend.

The latest incident in a spate of attacks on retail staff happened on Saturday, when a masked man entered a Mace store on High Street in the city centre brandishing an eight inch kitchen knife.

The perpetrator threatened the employee at knifepoint before fleeing the scene with a sum of cash at around 9.30pm.

The victim escaped physical injury, but has been left badly shaken.

Police have described the suspect as being 5ft 11ins and of thin build.

He was wearing a navy jacket with the hood up and wore a blue and white scarf which was used to cover his face.

The assailant is also reported to have spoken with a southern Irish accent.

“This was someone who was simply doing their job at their place of work when what must have been a terrifying ordeal occurred,” PSNI Detective Sergeant Maguire said.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts has already been in discussions with union representatives who want to see action taken to curb the violence — including legal changes.

“It is alarming to see an increase in the number and in the viciousness of these robberies,” he said.

“We are in ongoing discussions with the shop workers’ union who want to see the government act to ensure that perpetrators are dealt with more severely by the courts.”

Mr Roberts said the conse- quences for people caught up in violent incidents can be devastating.

“We wouldn’t have a retail sector without staff and it is important that they are supported and protected,” he added.

Last week, a shop worker in north Belfast described how she turned away in terror when a would-be robber threatened to throw acid in her face if she didn’t hand over cash.

Marshall’s shop worker Lucia Felloni (48) threw drink cans at the perpetrator as he fled the Oldpark Road store empty-handed after the owner pushed the panic alarm.

The assailant, who was described as being around 5ft 10ins tall, also used a scarf to cover his face and spoke with a Southern accent.

Last night a police spokesperson said detectives are not investigating a link between the two incidents at this time.