An armed gang shot a man in a leg last night as they stole legally held weapons from a house in west Belfast.
The wounded man?s injuries were not thought to be life threatening.
Within an hour of the incident, thieves also stole legally held guns in a separate robbery at a second address in the west of the city. Police appealed for help tonight in investigating the two incidents, which they believe may be linked.
The first took place at around 6.30pm when three men entered a house off the Suffolk Road.
It is understood the men demanded their victim hand over a number of legally held firearms and was shot when he refused to do so.
Two of the gang wore balaclavas, while the third had a scarf over his face. They made off with weapons and ammunition.
Shortly after 7.15pm three men dressed in dark clothing called at a house in the Ballymurphy Road area.
They forced the occupant to hand over a number of legally held weapons and ammunition. The victim of the second robbery was treated for shock.
PA