AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a woman was threatened and robbed in the car park of a hospital.
The unnamed victim was sitting in her car near the outpatients unit at Whiteabbey Hospital in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland when she was approached by a man wearing a surgical mask.
Police officers state that the man entered her vehicle wielding a hammer and threatened to attack her if she didn't hand over her belongings.
The terrified victim lost a number of personal items in the robbery-- including her engagement ring and handbag-- and the man fled the scene.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred at approximately 2pm yesterday, Tuesday 30 June, and have asked any potential witnesses to come forward.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the PSNI said:
"The victim has had items of significant value taken from her including her engagement ring and was left deeply shocked after her ordeal."
The suspect in the armed robbery is described as being approximately 5'5" tall, and was wearing blue jeans and a navy coloured coat with the hood up.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the robbery or seen a man that fits this description around the time of the incident to contact detectives.
Anyone with information which can assist the investigation should call 101 quoting reference number 963 of 30/06/2020 or submit a report online using the PSNI non-emergency reporting form here.
To submit a report anonymously, witnesses can contact Crimstoppers on 0800 555 111, or via the website.