Hi °C | Lo °C A couple are recovering after they were the victims of a tiger-kidnapping.
The pair were held captive overnight before the husband was forced to bring money from a cash delivery firm where he worked to a meeting point in Belfast.
The incident began after a gang of armed and masked men entered their home on the Drumaghlis Road in Crossgar, Co Down, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Monday.
They were held in the house for an hour before the husband was taken away in his own car and his wife in another vehicle.
He was later taken to the Mayfield area of Glengormley off the Hightown Road, arriving at 4.20am yesterday morning.
He was then ordered to bring a sum of money to Boucher Place in Belfast and drove his own car to the cash delivery company. After arriving at around 7.30am he was met by a gang member driving a silver Honda Civic car which drove off before the cash was exchanged.
During his ordeal, the man’s wife was being held at a large dilapidated detached house at Myrtlefield Park in south Belfast.
She managed to free herself at 9am yesterday morning and to raise the alarm.
The couple were not injured during the attempted robbery but are said to have been traumatised by the incident.
No money was handed over during the kidnapping and attempted robbery.
Police have appealed for information. They would especially like to speak to anyone who saw the male victim’s black Mini One car with the registration number RE08 RYO in any of the areas, or a silver Honda Civic in the Boucher Place area.
In August this year a gang stole around £200,000 after kidnapping a family in west Belfast.
Timeline
7.30-8.30pm: Armed and masked men enter house on Drumaghlis Road.
9.30pm: Man is taken away in his own car. Woman is driven off in another vehicle.
4-4.30am: Man is driven to Mayfield area, Glengormley.
7.30am: Man goes to place of employment in Boucher Place and collects cash.
9am: Woman manages to free herself from house.
