Screwdriver-wielding robbers threaten staff in town travel agents

Terry Murphy spoke to the ‘Mail’ after two men entered the Church Place premises around 9.30am last Thursday and held screwdrivers against the throats of two female employees.

Mr Murphy, who said the armed robbery was the first time the company had been targeted, phoned the police and officers were on the scene minutes later.

“Four members were on duty and I was upstairs when it happened. The staff managed to alert me and I phoned 999 and the police were on the scene two minutes later. By then the robbers had left but I appreciate, as well do the staff, that the police were on the scene so quickly,” he said.

The robbers fled the scene in a black Seat Leon car that police believe was driven by a third assailant - a man wearing a white hooded top and letters tattooed behind his right ear - with an undisclosed sum of money. The first robber is described as 5 ft 11 inches, of slim build and was wearing a white hoody and with scarf over his face while his accomplice is described as being 5ft 8 inches and was wearing a navy hoody.

The robbery was one of three incidents which took place across Craigavon within hours of each other. A second robbery happened at the Lidl store on the Balteagh Road, Craigavon when around 8.30pm last Thursday, two males entered the supermarket and threatened a till cashier with a knife before making off with a sum of money.

The third robbery took place at a filling station on the Lurgan Road, Portadown, during the early hours of last Friday morning.

A 27-year-old man has since been charged with the supermarket robbery and was due to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Monday.

Anyone with information to contact CID in Lurgan on 0845 600 8000.