Hi °C | Lo °C A gang of up to seven men posing as police officers robbed a 77-year-old woman in her home, it was revealed today.
The men arrived at the house on the Springfield Road, west Belfast, at 10.30pm last night, demanded money and assaulted the pensioner's 43-year-old niece.
The gang escaped with a sum of cash and now police are appealing for information on the crime.
A number of the men wore peaked caps, while others pulled jumpers over their faces.
One of the men is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, of large build, with dark hair and aged in his 30s.
He wore a black baseball cap and a boiler suit.
The other members of the gang are thought to have been aged around 19 or 20.
SDLP West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood condemned the robbery.
"This is a very disturbing incident and reveals the depth that some people will go to pursue crime," he said.
"The large gang, who were dressed as police officers, had clearly organised this attack.
"The severity of this crime cannot be diminished and the perpetrators must be dealt with and be put behind bars.
"Those living in this community are good people and are shocked that this has happened.
"Everyone now has to have a single responsibility and hand over information to the police so that members of this gang can be arrested and brought to justice."
