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Man slashed with machete in west Belfast burglary. | Man slashed with machete in west Belfast burglary. |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man in his 20s has been slashed with a machete in a west Belfast burglary. | |
Three men wielding knives and a baseball bat broke into the man's apartment at Ladybrook Cross at 20:00 GMT on Friday. | Three men wielding knives and a baseball bat broke into the man's apartment at Ladybrook Cross at 20:00 GMT on Friday. |
The homeowner and a friend who was visiting were both tied up. The man was slashed in the leg. The burglars stole cash, car keys and the house keys. | The homeowner and a friend who was visiting were both tied up. The man was slashed in the leg. The burglars stole cash, car keys and the house keys. |
In a separate burglary in Lisburn, a gang of five men, one wielding a crowbar, threatened two pensioners. | In a separate burglary in Lisburn, a gang of five men, one wielding a crowbar, threatened two pensioners. |
The gang got into the house in the Woodburn area at about 21:45 GMT on Friday. | The gang got into the house in the Woodburn area at about 21:45 GMT on Friday. |
The couple - a 70-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman - were told to sit down and cooperate while the house was searched. | The couple - a 70-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman - were told to sit down and cooperate while the house was searched. |
A kitchen knife which the woman was holding was taken. | A kitchen knife which the woman was holding was taken. |
'Terrifying' | |
The gang made their escape in a dark-coloured car. No-one was injured. | The gang made their escape in a dark-coloured car. No-one was injured. |
The elderly occupant said he had never experienced anything like it in his 47 years living in the house, saying it was "terrifying". | |
"I told them, 'There's no money in this house, if you want anything take it and get out'," he said. | |
He said his wife took an asthma attack and he had "to plead" with one of the intruders to give her a drink of water and an inhaler. | |
Sinn Fein councillor for the Upper Falls area, Matthew Garrett, described the attack in Ladybrook Cross as "sinister". | Sinn Fein councillor for the Upper Falls area, Matthew Garrett, described the attack in Ladybrook Cross as "sinister". |
"My immediate reaction is one of shock. It is a quiet area with a lot of families who just work and get on with their daily lives," he said. | "My immediate reaction is one of shock. It is a quiet area with a lot of families who just work and get on with their daily lives," he said. |
"It is sinister that they (the thieves) are prepared to use violence simply to get cars. | "It is sinister that they (the thieves) are prepared to use violence simply to get cars. |
"In the Upper Falls there has been an increase in burglaries, but these are generally creeper burglaries. This is more sinister." | "In the Upper Falls there has been an increase in burglaries, but these are generally creeper burglaries. This is more sinister." |
Mr Garrett said he would be requesting an urgent meeting with the district commander of the police to try and tackle the issue. | Mr Garrett said he would be requesting an urgent meeting with the district commander of the police to try and tackle the issue. |
Two attempted armed robberies | |
There were also two attempted armed robberies in Aughnacloy on Friday night. | |
A masked man with a shovel entered a commercial premises on the Caledon Road at about 20:30 GMT, but was chased away by employees. | |
Two hours later, two masked men tried and failed to gain entry to a closed shop in the Bellanaleck area. | |
The same car is believed to have been used in both attempts. |