Police Pursuit: Robbery Suspects Ram Patrol Cars in Portadown and Newry
Several police officers narrowly avoided serious injuries after their patrol cars were deliberately rammed in separate incidents in Portadown and Newry during a pursuit of robbery suspects. The suspects, who had robbed a newsagents in Lisburn, fled in a white Audi A3 and led the police on a high-speed chase across various areas, including Portadown and Newry, before crossing the border. The suspects drove recklessly, ramming into PSNI vehicles and even throwing items like bottles of alcohol and a steel chisel at the officers during the pursuit.
The robbery took place when two men entered a newsagents in Lisburn, jumped over the counter, and stole cash from the till while threatening a staff member with a metal object. Although no physical injuries were reported, the staff members were left shaken and upset by the incident. The suspects also took a staff member's handbag before fleeing in the white Audi A3. Detectives suspect that there were additional occupants in the vehicle besides the two men involved in the robbery.
The white Audi A3 was later spotted driving dangerously, including driving on the wrong side of the road and going the wrong way around a roundabout. Despite police attempts to stop the vehicle, it refused to pull over. The pursuit culminated in the suspects ramming police cars in Portadown and Newry before escaping over the border. Fortunately, the officers involved only sustained minor injuries in the collisions.
The first suspect is described as a man in his 30s, approximately 5ft 9in tall, wearing a brown collared hooded parka with a fur trim. The second suspect, also believed to be in his 30s, is around 5ft 7in tall and was wearing a black beanie hat, black jumper, turquoise T-shirt, blue jeans, and black trainers. The investigation is ongoing, with the PSNI collaborating closely with An Garda Síochána to apprehend the suspects.
Anyone with information, including dash-cam footage or CCTV recordings, is urged to contact the police on 101, quoting reference number 893 07/03/26. Alternatively, information can be submitted online via the non-emergency reporting form. Crimestoppers offers an anonymous reporting option at 0800 555 111 or online at their website.
In conclusion, the police are actively investigating the robbery incident and the subsequent pursuit of the suspects who rammed patrol cars in Portadown and Newry. The safety of the officers involved was compromised during the high-speed chase, but thankfully, they only sustained minor injuries. The public's assistance in providing any relevant information or footage related to the incident is crucial in helping the authorities apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice.