Police are investigating a link between three armed robberies in west Belfast and Co Antrim.
At 6.30pm yesterday, three men used a hammer and a long-bladed car knife in a robbery at a shop on the Stewartstown Road in west Belfast. A lottery machine, till and cash register were taken.
Within half an hour a trio were reported to have used the same weapons to hold up premises at Main Street, Glenavy, Co Antrim. Police said a silver Renault Megane was used in both robberies.
A spokeswoman said they were investigating a link between these robberies and a further incident at 8pm on Wednesday night, when an off-licence was targeted on the Glenavy Road, Lisburn.
A silver Megane was later found abandoned in a hotel car park in Lisburn.
