Armed raiders hold five Dunnes staff before getting away with cash

GARDAÍ are hunting two armed raiders after they threatened staff and robbed a substantial amount of cash.

Five employees were still at the Dunnes Stores in Rathmines, south Dublin, when three were taken to the store’s cash room and ordered to open it. Gardaí said the masked raiders were armed with a shotgun and a handgun and threatened staff.

The robbery took place after the store closed at about 8.30pm on Sunday at the outlet inside the Swan Centre in Rathmines.

“Gardaí at Rathmines are investigating an armed robbery that occurred in Dunnes Stores, Rathmines,” a garda spokesman said.

“Two men wearing balaclavas entered the store armed with what appeared to be a shotgun and a handgun.”

The spokesman said the store had been closed at the time, but that there were still five members of staff on the premises.

He said the five were separated and a number brought to where the day’s takings were held.

“Three of them were taken to a cash room where threats were made. A substantial amount of money was then taken.”

The spokesman said the three members of staff were locked in the cash room afterwards.

He said no shots were fired and no one was injured.

He said the gang escaped by car: “The culprits made their getaway in a silver Ford Galaxy that was parked on Castlewood Avenue.”

He said no arrests had been made and that investigations were ongoing.

“Anyone with information to offer in relation to the robbery, or the car used in it, are asked to contact gardaí at Rathmines on 01 666700, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station,” said the spokesman.

Gardaí are trawling through CCTV footage from inside and outside the store.

They will also examine how the two men had gathered the information they had about cash management in the store.