Armed thieves steal two cars

Armed thieves steal two cars

A gang of five men stole two cars and threatened several people at gunpoint within a two-hour period.

The men tried to force their way into a couple's house at Blenheim Drive in Strandtown, east Belfast at about midnight on Friday morning.

The couple were threatened with a gun, and one of them was attacked.

The men escaped in the couple's car.

About 90 minutes later, the men drove the stolen car into a petrol station on the Antrim Road in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

Four men threatened staff with a gun and demanded cigarettes and cash.

A short time later, they pulled into a petrol station in Holywood Road, east Belfast, and drove off without paying for fuel.

Just after 0200 GMT on Friday, the gang followed a woman to her home at Newtown Crescent in Newtownards, County Down.

A man approached her at her driveway and told her they were going to take her sports car.

When she refused, she was threatened at gunpoint.

Three men drove off in her car, while the other two remained in their first stolen car.

Police have appealed for information.