Terrified shop workers had guns pointed at their heads during 30 minutes of mayhem in Mid Ulster on Thursday morning during which masked men stole cash and cigarettes.
Police believe a gang of three men stole a vehicle in Portadown, Co Armagh, and travelled to areas in counties Tyrone and Derry shortly before 7am to carry out the armed robberies.
Staff at three shops in Ballinderry, Ballyronan and Clonoe, as well as customers, were reported to have been terrified as the masked men burst into the stores.
One young staff member in his 20s was forced to empty the till by the masked men when they burst into Lynch’s Eurospar in Clonoe shortly after 7am.
Other staff members in the shop reported fearing he had been shot as one of the assailants smashed a handgun off the shop counter during the ordeal.
All three shops were closed on Thursday as police and forensics teams combed each of the premises for evidence, however as of Thursday evening no arrests have yet been made.
Police say a blue Audi A6 was stolen in Portadown in the early hours of Thursday morning while being left running to warm up, before being driven to the scene of the first robbery at a small family-run filling station in Ballinderry at around 6.50am.
The next robbery took place in the nearby village of Ballyronan shortly before 7am, with a member of staff again having a firearm pointed at their head.
It was reported the three men then drove 16 miles to Clonoe where the final robbery took place.
The vehicle was then found on fire back in Portadown at Drumcree Community Centre at 8.40am.
Linda Dillon, Mid Ulster Sinn Féin MLA, had spoken with staff and the shop owner at Lynch’s Eurospar in Clonoe and said it was a “deeply traumatising” event.
“This is deeply, deeply, traumatising for the staff here. I’ve spoken to them this morning and they really are shook up,” Ms Dillon said.
“Standing with people with guns in your face is not a nice experience for anyone to suffer. All of these staff are local people and this community will rally around them.
Staff members faced gunpoint terror during series of armed robberies at three Mid Ulster shops this morning. Armed raiders targeted stores in Clonoe, Ballyronan and Coagh within hours, holding weapons to workers' heads before fleeing in stolen Audi later found burned out.
— The Irish News (@irish_news) January 30, 2025
Mid… pic.twitter.com/cZZK8MNRQ1
“This shop is a really busy shop and it’s well supported by the local community. It is the beating heart of our community here in Clonoe so we really are devastated to see this happen.”
SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn Absolutely said he was “absolutely disgusted” at news of the robberies on Thursday.
“Everyone knows the massive role Spar plays in our community – not just as a shop but through donations to local charities, sports clubs, and community initiatives.
“The scumbags who carried out these robberies offer nothing to our communities but fear and distress.”
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said the attacks on the small businesses was “disgraceful”.
“These robberies on our members are utterly disgraceful and if anyone in the local community has any information, please contact the PSNI,” Mr Roberts said.
“We shouldn’t forget these are independent retailers that go above and beyond to serve their local community. Our thoughts are with the staff who have been traumatised by these despicable attacks.”
