Students left terrified after house raid

Students left terrified after house raid

22 May 2019

TWO young Downpatrick girls studying in Belfast have recalled the trauma of being robbed by a knife-wielding burglar.

Queen’s University students Katy McEvoy was held captive alongside her terrified friend Caitlin Fitzsimons by the intruder in their south Belfast home last week and has used social media to appeal to her neighbours to be vigilant after being robbed as she was getting prepared for a night out.

The terrifying incident happened inside a property on Cadogan Street in the Holyland area in the around 10.15pm on Tuesday evening of last week.

“Myself and Caitlin were in her bedroom getting ready to go out,” Katy wrote on social media.

“The bedroom door opened and a man walked in and we were robbed at knifepoint in her top floor bedroom.”

The traumatised student, who is in her 20s, described the intruder who pointed two knives at her and her pal as being around 25 years old.

“He had a scarf round his mouth and a hat on, only his eyes were visible,” she explained. “He stood and looked at both of us and made us give him any valuables we had on us.

“He demanded all of our money, he stole both our iPhone 7s and made us reset both of the phones so they couldn’t be tracked.”

Ms McEvoy said the robber also plundered another girl’s room before making off on foot with her jewellery.

She said that the main purpose of her online post is to warn anyone living in the Holyland area to lock their front and bedroom doors at all times and to avoid being in a house on their own.

“Such a dangerous place,” her Facebook post continued.

“This situation could have been a lot worse and hand on heart this was the scariest experience of my whole life and would hate anyone to have to go through this.”

The nursing student added that she was “just so grateful we are both OK and nothing happened to us”.

It has also emerged that another man and woman were threatened by the assailant who demanded money from them as he left the property and fled in the direction of the Ormeau Embankment.

Police investigating both incidents have issued an appeal for information and are appealing for witnesses to help them track down the suspect, who is described as 5ft 6in tall and of medium build.

A police Facebook post read: “It has been reported to police that two young females were in the upstairs bedroom of their property on Cadogan Street getting ready for a night out with friends.

“They heard someone enter the house — friends they were expecting? Other house mates?

“Neither of these unfortunately — they were confronted by a man armed with a knife, demanding all of their money.”

The post concludes: “It has been reported that the suspect male detained the residents, issuing demands and instructions at knifepoint and eventually stealing cash and items from all four residents.”