PSNI investigate Belfast crime wave
A wave of crime has hit west Belfast over the weekend with two armed robberies, a shooting and a hijacking.
Police are not linking the incidents at this stage, saying different weapons were used in each attack.
A bookmaker on the Falls Road was targeted in an armed robbery at around 9pm on Saturday.
Two men, one armed with a gun, entered the premises and threatened staff before making off with a purse belonging to one of the workers.
One of the men was described as being of medium build, wearing a grey hooded top, light grey tracksuit bottoms, black trainers and black gloves.
The second man was described as being of medium build, wearing a grey top with a blue hooded top underneath and black gloves.
Both of them made off on foot in the direction of St James’s Road.
Elsewhere, an off-licence in the Whiterock Road area was targeted in an armed robbery.
A masked man wielding a hatchet entered the building at around 6.25pm on Saturday and threatened staff before making off with a sum of cash.
He was described as being of slim build, wearing a blue hooded top and pale blue jeans.
A second man, dressed in dark clothing, waited at the door. Both made off on foot in the direction of the Falls Road.
Meanwhile, a shooting was reported in the Sliabh Dubh View area of west Belfast shortly before 8pm on Saturday.
A shot was fired at a house in the area. A window was smashed but nobody was injured.
And on Friday, a woman was left with minor injuries after she had her car highjacked in the Kennedy Way area.
A man jumped into the passenger seat and threatened her with a knife.
The 31-year-old victim had been driving her silver Rover 25 out of a car park when she was targeted.
She was forced to drive a short distance along Kennedy Way before she was forced out of the car and the man drove off.
He was described as being aged in his 20s, of slim build and around 5ft 6in tall.
He was wearing dark clothing and a hooded coat with a scarf across his face.
Detectives at Grosvenor Road have appealed for anyone with information on any of the incidents to come forward.
