Couple targeted by kidnap gang

Couple targeted by kidnap gang

11 September 2011 - by JOANNE FLEMING

THE kidnapping of a Crossgar couple from their home on Halloween night has been condemned as a “disgraceful attack”.

Armed and masked men entered the house on Drumaghlis Road last Monday evening after 7.30pm and kept the couple captive in separate properties overnight.

The husband, who works for a cash delivery company, was driven away in his black Mini One, while his wife was taken in a different vehicle.

In the early hours of this morning the man was driven in his car to the Mayfield area of Glengormley, and told to drive to his place of work and take an amount of money to Boucher Place in Belfast.

At 7.30am he went to Boucher Place where he was met by another member of the gang driving a silver Honda Civic car. But before any money was handed over the Honda Civic drove off.

At 9am his wife freed herself from a house under renovation at Myrtlefield Park in South Belfast and raised the alarm.

The PSNI have stated that the couple, although traumatised by the incident, were not physically injured. No money was handed over.

Local councillor Terry Andrews condemned those responsible and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

“Nobody deserves to go through such an ordeal,” he said. “It is hard to imagine what they must have went through and my heart goes out to them.

“There have been other kidnappings of this nature in the district but this is the first in the Crossgar area.

“It is not a trend we want to  see continuing — people resorting  to anything to get money.”

Councillor Billy Walker added: “This is a disgraceful attack and

my thoughts are with everyone involved.

“Anyone with any information at all, however minor it may seem, needs to go to police immediately.”

Police want to hear from anyone who can help with information about activity in the Drumaghlis Road last Monday evening between 7pm and 9pm, and anyone who noticed a black Mini One (RE08 RYO).

Detectives from the Serious Crime Branch are asking anyone with information to contact the special incident room in Belfast on 028 9056 1812.

Alternatively, to provide information anonymously, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.