Burglaries involving Blue Ford Focus on the 24th and 29th October 2009.

Gardaí are investigating a number of late night burglaries around the country. At each burglary a Blue Ford Focus ST was used by the raiders.

The first burglary occurred on the 24th October 2009 at 12 midnight at the Centra Supermarket in Kilmeadan Co. Waterford. Four males with balaclavas attempted to force open steel shutters but were disturbed by a witness, whom the culprits threw stones at his house and fled.

The second raid occurred at 12:15am at the Spar Supermarket, Kilmacow, Kilkenny.
Entry was gained via the side window by forcing the shutters. Three men were involved wearing balaclavas and blue hoodies. They took a large amount of cigarettes.

The next burglary occurred at 2:35am at the Auto Power Garage, Clonmel Road, Carrick-on-Suir where entry was gained through forcing the front door.
The raiders were disturbed by a security guard who struck the Blue Ford Focus with a baton to the rear right hand side passenger door and rear lights causing damage.
Again a large quantity of cigarettes were taken.

At 03.50am a burglary occurred at Brett’s Hardware at Mullinahone, Tipperary.
The safe was taken by the raiders and was later recovered intact at Lismolin, Ballingarry, South Tipperary along with an Iron Bar.

Gardaí observed the suspected offenders in 06-08 model Ford Focus S.T. 2.5Lite and pursued it at length towards Urlingford from Mullinahone.

A few days later on the 29th October 2009 at 02.10am a burglary occurred at Scanlon’s Shop, Friarstown, Grange, Co. Limerick. The alarm box was forced off the wall and the shutter on the door smashed and entry gained.
A large amount of cigarettes were ready to be taken when the raiders left the scene leaving behind the tools they used.

At 03.40am a burglary occurred at the Mace shop on Monastery Road, Doon, Co. Limerick. The front door of the shop was smashed in. and cigarettes were taken from the machine along with a quantity of cash.

The final burglary of the night occurred at 04.10am at Butlers Centra in Dundrum, Co. Tipperary. The manhole outside shop was lifted and wires were cut. Entry was gained to the shop by forcing the door. A pick axe, hammer and iron bar were left at the scene. Four males were again involved wearing balaclavas and using a Blue Ford Focus. On being disturbed by Gardaí at the scene 2 culprits attacked the unmarked patrol car with iron bars and rammed the patrol car on a number of occasions before fleeing the scene. Gardaí continued to pursue the offending car until it turned left at the Cross of Clune and continued onto the next set of crossroads where it turned right. As Gardaí were pursuing the offending vehicle reversed into the patrol car with such force that the airbags deployed in the Garda car. The Gardaí were not injured and the suspect car made good its escape in the direction of Rossmore.

Gardaí at Clonmel investigating - Telephone 052 61 77640