An armed gang which robbed one of Belfast city centre's top jewellers was being hunted by police last night.
Jewellery valued at thousands of pounds was taken in the raid on the long established premises of family firm Fred J Malcolm in Chichester Street.
Two men armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer forced their way into the jewellery shop at lunchtime yesterday, forced staff and customers to lie on the floor before removing what police said was a substantial amount of jewellery from a window display.
It is understood the men escaped in a blue Peugeot 206 which had been reported stolen from outside a house at Maghaberry, Co Antrim at around 2 am.
Three men were understood to have been in the vehicle when it left the jewellers. It was later found abandoned at Montgomery Street in Belfast and was taken away for forensic examination.
Police said one of the robbers was described as being between 22-26, about 5ft 8ins tall, thin build and wearing a dark hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms, white trainers and a black monkey hat.
The second was thought to be aged between 22-24, around 5ft 7ins tall and wearing a hooded top, light coloured tracksuit bottoms with stripes and dark coloured trainers. The third male was also in his early to mid 20s and dressed in sports clothes.
One of the robbers had the slogan 'New York 1903' on the back of his top. Police appealed for anyone who witnessed the robbery or who had information about it to contact them.
Malcolm's was last night trying to establish the value of the jewellery taken.
PA