Robbery of a Post Office, Staplestown, Co. Carlow on the 1/12/15

The Gardaí at Carlow Garda Station are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at a post office on Staplestown Road on Tuesday 1st December 2015.

At approximately 11.10am, a dark coloured Vauxhall Insignia car. Registration number 11W1774 pulled up on the road outside the post office. The post office is located at the rear of the shop. Three masked men got out of the car and ran into the shop and towards the post office. There were a large number of customers in the shop and at the post office at the time. The raiders attempted to gain entry to the post office and attempted to smash the glass. Two of the raiders were armed with a crowbar and a sledgehammer. The third raider was struck on the head with the crow bar during the attempted raid.

The raiders abandoned their attempt and fled from the shop to the waiting Vauxhall Insignia car which was waiting outside. The car travelled at speed in the direction of Pollerton Road.

The Insignia car was later found a short distance away, with its engine running at the Paddocks housing estate on the Brownshill Road.

The Vauxhall Insignia was stolen during the course of a burglary between the evening of Monday 30th November and the early hours of Tuesday 1st December. The registration of the car is 11W1774. This registration was on the car at the time of the attempted robbery and when it was located after 5pm at the Paddocks.

A blue 5 series BMW was seen at the location in the Paddocks were the insignia was abandoned.

Appeal:

• Gardaí are exploring the possibility that the men transferred into the 5 series BMW car that was parked at the Paddocks estate where the Vauxhall Insignia was recovered.

• The raiders all wore dark clothing and were of stocky build, two of the raiders were armed, the third raider did not appear to be armed.

• Gardaí are asking the public to consider all the elements to this case, the descriptions of the men, the unauthorised taking of the Insignia car at Bunclody together with the possible transfer to the 5 series BMW and to attempt to nominate possible suspects for this crime.

• The fact that one of the raiders struck his accomplice accidently may have resulted in injury or may have been discussed by the men following the attempted robbery.

Contact Carlow Garda Station on 059 9136620