The police are investigating incidents in which a shop worker was punched and others threatened.
The alleged incidents occurred in two businesses in North Belfast on Thursday afternoon, according to a PSNI statement.
They say officers “received a report of an incident at a shop on the Antrim Road at around 4.40pm on Thursday 21st November”.
A spokesman added: “It was reported that a man had entered the shop and walked to the rear of the counter where he was stopped by staff. As the man was being escorted from the shop he punched a staff member to his face and made off.
“A further report was then received a short time later that a male, matching the description given in the first incident, entered a shop a short distance from the first, and threatened staff.
“No money was handed over but the man made off from the shop with several items of stock. Officers attended and following a number of enquiries arrested a 27 year old man at an address in the New Lodge area.”
Police say the the man arrested was detained “on suspicion of three counts of assault, assault on police, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, criminal damage and theft”.
They added that the man “remains in police custody assisting officers with their enquiries”.
Detectives are asking anyone who was in the Antrim Road area on Thursday afternoon and witnessed either of these incidents or who has any information to contact them at Musgrave on 101 quoting reference number 1389 21/11/19 or to ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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