THREE MASKED MEN who claimed to belong to the UVF robbed a house belonging to elderly men yesterday.

The PSNI said the burglary happened in the New Road area of Ahoghill yesterday evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Catherine Magee said:

“It was reported to police that at around 8pm on Monday evening, three masked men entered a house belonging to elderly men. The men claimed to be from a paramilitary organisation, namely the UVF. They went through a number of rooms in the house before taking a sum of cash and leaving.”

She said that the victims were not physically harmed during the incident but were left shaken following their ordeal.

Detectives are working through evidence and conducting a thorough investigation.

“The incident is similar in nature to an aggravated burglary in Garvagh last week on 02 October, ” said the detective. She said that links between the two burglaries “are being explored”, but a definite link has yet to be established.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact detectives in Ballymena on the non emergency number 101. Information can also be passed to the PSNI anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.