Shop owners beware the smash and grab!

Gareth Austin

For all you fellow shop owners out there.

Yesterday, Thursday, we had a visit from a group of travellers from the Letterkenny area. 5 in total. One worked as a distraction whilst the others emptied my tilll and store a charity box. The distraction one was in the shop for just over a minute and the shop assistant was only making her way over to him when one of the others came in throguh the exit door ran behidn the till and emptied the takings, helpign himself to the charity box at the same time. (the one who emptied the till was only about 10!). He then jumped into the waiting car where also my shop assistant stuck a foot in the car and was tryign to wrestle the money back from the driver.

The car then proceeded to drive away with my shop assistant hanging out the door (ahe was also giving a blow by blow account to the Garda at the same time on her mobile), they drive about 200 yards before my shop assistant managed to get free. A car was used to block the road in front of them but they proceeded to mount the pavement to escape.

The shop next door managed to catch the guy who acted as a distraction, and the Gards came and took him away.

The car used was a Red and black ford escort DL plate, 4 escaped in the car (one 10 year old boy, the driver was a young male and the two girls int he car were heafty girls (who were laughing as my girl was being driven up the road hanging out the car!).

Keep an eye out for this gang, I belive they were in my shop the day before having a look around. The potential harm they put my shop assistant in when they drove away was emmense, showing a recklessness for the stafety of others, and I warm you all to keep any eye out and take preventative measures where possible.

wiredup

Gareth Austin wrote:

For all you fellow shop owners out there.

Yesterday, Thursday, we had a visit from a group of travellers from the Letterkenny area. 5 in total. One worked as a distraction whilst the others emptied my tilll and store a charity box. The distraction one was in the shop for just over a minute and the shop assistant was only making her way over to him when one of the others came in throguh the exit door ran behidn the till and emptied the takings, helpign himself to the charity box at the same time. (the one who emptied the till was only about 10!). He then jumped into the waiting car where also my shop assistant stuck a foot in the car and was tryign to wrestle the money back from the driver.

The car then proceeded to drive away with my shop assistant hanging out the door (ahe was also giving a blow by blow account to the Garda at the same time on her mobile), they drive about 200 yards before my shop assistant managed to get free. A car was used to block the road in front of them but they proceeded to mount the pavement to escape.

The shop next door managed to catch the guy who acted as a distraction, and the Gards came and took him away.

The car used was a Red and black ford escort DL plate, 4 escaped in the car (one 10 year old boy, the driver was a young male and the two girls int he car were heafty girls (who were laughing as my girl was being driven up the road hanging out the car!).

Keep an eye out for this gang, I belive they were in my shop the day before having a look around. The potential harm they put my shop assistant in when they drove away was emmense, showing a recklessness for the stafety of others, and I warm you all to keep any eye out and take preventative measures where possible.

That is horrible. These scum deserve to be blown away at close range :mad:

TheNog

A piece of advice for all shopowners. Do Not try to tackle any thieves. The shop assistant was very lucky not to be seriously injured all for just a few euro. It is not worth it.

I realise that some owners are sick to death of being robbed but what they should do is

* make sure your insurance is in date,
* your cctv is working and the picture is clear,
* check the tapes as most are of the worst quality,
* try to get the reg number of any car they are driving,
* call the Gardai immediatley and
* instruct all staff not to tackle the thugs.

If they are brazen enough to do a job like this, they will not hesitate to hit or stab someone who gets in their way.