Aggravated Burglary at Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny on the 28/7/12

The Gardaí at Kilkenny Garda Station are appealing for information in relation to an aggravated burglary that occurred on Saturday the 28th July 2012 in Bennettsbridge.

The previous day, the injured party in this case, an elderly gentleman, living alone in a rural villiage about four miles from Thomastown, went about his usual business. He has a unique collection of antiques at the back of his house which he runs as a museum. Later in the evening, he closed up the museum, had his dinner and cut the grass. At 12.30am he headed to bed, he turned on the radio and had the volume turned up full as he had removed his hearing aid.

Three to four masked and armed raiders burst in through his bedroom door, immediately demanding money. They pulled him out of bed and onto the floor. One of the raiders tied his hands and feet with blue binding twine. They covered his head with a pillowcase and put a gag in his mouth. The raiders found a small safe in the house and removed it. The raiders had been in the house for over an hour. The man waited a while to ensure the raiders were gone before he attempted to move. He crawled to the front door and alerted a passing neighbour.

Appeal:

• On Friday the 27th of July at 3pm, a man and a woman in a black ford fiesta, possibly between 1996 to 2002 model drove into the drive way of the victim’s home. The woman was described as blonde. Gardaí are appealing for this couple to come forward.

• Gardaí are appealing to anybody in the area of Danesfort Road between 1am and 3am on Saturday the 28th of July 2012

• One of the raiders was described as in his forties, heavy, 16 stone, tall with grey hair. The remainder are described as being in their late 20’s or early 30’s, slightly smaller than the first raider.

• The safe stolen during this incident was recovered on the 6th of August on the Callen Road, Kilkenny.

• Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information in relation to this incident to come forward.