Gardaí appeal for information on three gangs involved in separate raids
Gangs targeted business premises in Mallow, Skibbereen and Youghal making off with thousands of euro worth of property and cash.
Three men wearing balaclavas and gloves took part in five raids on business premises in Youghal, targeting a hardware store, dog grooming parlour, kitchen supplier, floor supplier and printers.
All the premises are in the Millennium industrial estate, near the town’s greyhound track.
At about 12.40am yesterday the men drove a dark-coloured Volvo into the industrial estate.
They then used crowbars to break their way into the premises, stealing cash and a CCTV system from three of the businesses.
The gang fled at about 1am after being disturbed by the owner of one of the businesses.
Gardaí believe the gang may also have been also have been responsible for a similar spate of robberies in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
Gardaí carried out a forensic examination of all the premises in the hope of picking up clues to the identity of the culprits.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Youghal gardaí on (024) 92200.
Meanwhile, two men broke through the roof at Drinagh Co-Op in Skibbereen early yesterday morning and made off with a large quantity of drink, possibly worth several thousand euro.
The men managed to lift the drink back out of the building before making their escape in a dark-coloured car.
Gardaí are examining CCTV footage at the premises and believe the two men were inside between 4.40am and 5.20am.
Gardaí are anxious to speak to anybody in the area who may have seen anything suspicious.
They can contact either Skibbereen garda station at (023) 8821570 or Skibbereen Garda Station (028) 23088.
The 4 Home premises in Mallow also fell victim to a gang who broke in through a rear door of the Dairygold-owned premises.
Detectives say the gang broke in to the store at Park Road from the garden centre.
They gained access to the office and rifled the till.
It is believe they may have made off with a couple of thousand euro.
Gardaí carried out a forensic examination of the scene and are also looking at CCTV footage.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station at (022) 21105.
