A busking Elvis impersonator has been left "paranoid" after being robbed while busking in Belfast city centre.
Co Tyrone man Jordan Devine, aka Jelvis Pelvis, has become known far and wide for his tribute act to 'The King of Rock and Roll' and first made a name for himself on The X Factor in 2016.
He said the incident happened in the Cornmarket area of the city centre on Thursday, August 25 as he was approaching the end of his day busking - his main source of income.
Read more: From X Factor to Elvis: Meet Strabane's own 'Jelvis' out busking in Belfast
Speaking to Belfast Live, Jordan explained he was 'in shock' that anyone would do this in the middle of the city on a busy say.
Jordan said: "I was at the bandstand performing as usual and one guy came up and pretended to put money in my bucket and he lifted it and ran with three girls watching. It was at about 3.45pm and I had been busking all day before that.
"It was coming near the end of the day and I was leaving soon enough so you're talking over £100. No-one went after them and they ran down Church Lane and then took the money out and threw away the bucket.
"One of the guys from the Belfast Busking Band actually found the bucket behind Revolución de Cuba just lying on the ground."
Originally from Strabane, Jordan had been staying in a tourist hostel while he busked in Belfast but he is now staying with friends in the city.
"It was all the money I had too so I had nowhere to stay that night so a friend had to put me up," he continued, "I was shocked - I never expected to happen and I didn't think people would be like that.
"It's changed how I busk. I bought a fanny pack to put under my suit to collect the money in but it's very heavy and shakes a lot when I'm performing but it is what I have to do to ensure I don't get robbed again.
"I always feel kind of paranoid now when people come up and I have to look at them coming up to the bucket to make sure they are not going to take it. It's made me view them differently."
He added: "I was outside Starbucks and there were around 100 people about on a sunny day and they still took some risk."
Jordan has garnered a large online following for his Jelvis persona, particularly on TikTok, and he has been glad of the support from his fans since sharing the news of the incident with his followers.
He said: "They all are feeling bad about it and said that they were sorry that it had to happen to me and asking me if I've been alright. There are people watching out for me now because they know it has happened before and told me they'll chase after them if they do."
Despite being a negative experience for Jordan's performing career, he has said that it will not deter him from doing what he loves in the city centre.
"It hasn't made me want to stop but it has made me more aware about what I am open to if I do do it. It's not the first time it has happened to a busker in Belfast so it can happen again."
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police received a report of a theft of a sum of cash in the Arthur Square area of Belfast on Thursday 28th August.
"Enquiries are ongoing."
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