Businesses in Northern Ireland were today being given advice on guarding themselves against tiger kidnappings after two such incidents in 24 hours.
Belfast Chamber of Commerce has been in discussions with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and will be issuing members with guidance.
The talks were held after the wife and three children of an employee at the central Belfast Next store were held captive by an armed gang on Sunday night while he was ordered to go to work yesterday and collect cash from the safe.
The man was said to have handed over “less than £50,000 (€51,146)” to secure the safe release of his family.
Last night another such kidnapping was carried out, but the gang failed to get any cash when one of the victims refused to co-operate.
There have been five such tiger kidnappings in recent months in Northern Ireland and Belfast Chamber of Commerce president John Moore said there was a surge in such robberies at key trading periods such as Christmas.
Mr Moore said: “We had been working closely with the police during yesterday afternoon and last evening seeking advice from them.
“Hopefully today we will be sending out some key protection points for members to review in terms of taking normal procedures, on closing shops, cash handling, being vigilant — back to the old days, looking out for suspicious people hanging about, unusual cars parked for long periods of time.”
PA