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City ransom gang 'well organised' Cash reward offer after robbery
(about 5 hours later)
A "well organised" gang was behind the kidnapping of woman and her children in west Belfast, the police have said. Marks & Spencer has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of anyone involved in a robbery at its Lisburn store.
An armed and masked gang forced the two girls, aged five and 11, from their beds at their Hannahstown home at 0430 GMT on Thursday. An armed gang forced a mother and her two girls, aged five and 11, from their beds at their Hannahstown home at 0430 GMT on Thursday.
They imprisoned them and their mother in a bathroom before forcing them into a blue van. They imprisoned them in a bathroom before forcing them into a blue van.
Her partner, a Sprucefield Marks and Spencer employee, was told to take tens of thousands of pounds from a safe. Her partner, a Sprucefield Marks & Spencer employee, was told to take tens of thousands of pounds from a safe.
He was then told to take the money to a nearby silver or grey Vauxhall Corsa, with a Scottish flag on the back, at 0700 GMT to secure their release. A Marks & Spencer spokesperson said the firm was offering the £10,000 reward in the hope that it would "encourage anyone holding information to come forward and co-operate fully with the police".
Police said a "well organised" gang was behind the kidnapping of the woman and her children in west Belfast.
The woman's partner was told to take the money to a nearby silver or grey Vauxhall Corsa, with a Scottish flag on the back, at 0700 GMT to secure their release.
The van with the woman and children was then driven to the Boucher Road area of south Belfast. The captives escaped from the vehicle at about 0800 GMT and went for help to a local business.The van with the woman and children was then driven to the Boucher Road area of south Belfast. The captives escaped from the vehicle at about 0800 GMT and went for help to a local business.
The woman and her children were physically unharmed but left shaken by their ordeal. The van has been recovered by police for forensic examination.The woman and her children were physically unharmed but left shaken by their ordeal. The van has been recovered by police for forensic examination.
Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw the blue Ford Transit van in Hannahstown or the Boucher Road area on Thursday morning.Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw the blue Ford Transit van in Hannahstown or the Boucher Road area on Thursday morning.
It is understood the van was stolen from Garvagh, County Londonderry, on 16 September.It is understood the van was stolen from Garvagh, County Londonderry, on 16 September.
Police said a false number plate, OUI 4201, had been on the van at the time of the robbery. The correct plate should read INZ 4763.Police said a false number plate, OUI 4201, had been on the van at the time of the robbery. The correct plate should read INZ 4763.
They are also appealing for anyone who was in the Sprucefield area on Thursday morning and saw the Vauxhall Corsa to contact them.They are also appealing for anyone who was in the Sprucefield area on Thursday morning and saw the Vauxhall Corsa to contact them.