Post Office Robbery in Ballinakill, Co. Laois on the 26/5/14

Gardaí at Abbeyleix Garda Station are investigating a robbery at a post office in the town of Ballinakill on Monday the 26th May 2014.

At 9am the post master opened the post office for the day. At 9.45am, as a local woman was being served, two raiders entered the post office. One of the raiders was armed with a shotgun and the second raider was armed with a hatchet. They immediately threatened the post master and customer and demanded money. The woman managed to get to the door as the raiders threatened the post master. She alerted a neighbour who phoned the Gardaí. The raiders stole a sum of money and fled in a maroon coloured Toyota Corolla, registration number 97OY1934 towards Ballyragget.

Appeal:

• The Toyota Corolla registration number 97OY1934 was stolen just after midnight on the 25th May from Meelick in Portlaoise. The owner parked the car on Saturday evening. The car had very little petrol and may have refuelled in the area. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have seen it to come forward.

• At 8.20am on Monday morning, a man out jogging in Vickerstown, Co. Laois saw this car with two men in it. The jogger noticed that the driver attempted to cover his face as he drove past him. They travelled through an area known as Mullen and Gardai are appealing to anyone who saw these men to come forward.

• After the robbery, the raiders drove in the direction of Ballyragget and were last seen going through an area known as Low hill.

• A short time later that afternoon the car was recovered in a laneway near Rhebhan Gaelic Football Club in Athy, Co.Kildare.

Abbeyleix Garda Station are investigating - Telephone 057 873 0580