People are being asked to keep an eye out for banknotes covered in green dye following a cash-in-transit robbery today.
Police say they have recovered a cracked open cash-box, but added that its dye pack had gone off.
The appeal came after an armed robbery at Academy Street in Belfast city centre on Tuesday morning.
They say it was reported that at around 7.50am, “a man armed with a black handgun, threatened a cash in transit employee to hand over a cash box”.
The man “made off with the cash box which contained a sum of cash in a grey/silver coloured, older Renault Megan Scenic car that was driven by an accomplice”, police say.
The man was wearing a dark coloured balaclava, a high visibility vest over a black top, a pair of red gloves, grey bottoms and is described as being approximately 5’7 tall.
The car was discovered on fire by police in Roumania Rise in the Divis area of West Belfast a short time later, according to police. Officers also recovered a “damaged, empty cash in transit box a short distance away”.
Detective Sergeant O’Flaherty said: “While I would like to thank those people who have come forward with information already, this robbery happened as rush hour got underway, so I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw anything suspicious in the area of Academy Street, Exchange Street, or the car being abandoned and set alight on Roumania Rise this morning to call detectives on 101 quoting reference number 185 of 10 March 2020.
“I would also be keen for drivers with dashcams who were in the area this morning to check their footage and to get in contact if they have recorded any footage which might help.
“While we are not confirming the amount of money that was stolen, a green dye pack fitted as part of the security measures in the cash box did explode, so I would also ask people and in particular retailers to contact us if they encounter anyone attempting to use banknotes covered in green dye.”
The PSNI says witnesses can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
