Appeal for robbery witnesses

Gardaí are searching for a gang of men who stole thousands of euros worth of top-quality perfume and aftershave from a pharmacy in North Cork.

It took thieves less than two minutes to smash their way into the pharmacy and to escape with plastic bags laden with the stolen goods.

According to garda sources the gang used a sledgehammer to smash the window of Boots pharmacy on Main Street, Mallow at about 4.30am yesterday.

Gardaí can see from CCTV footage that three people entered the shop.

They had their heads covered with scarves and hoodies. Gardaí also believe they may have made their escape in a Volvo estate.

“They targeted high-value perfumes in particular and were in the pharmacy for less than two minutes,” a garda spokesman said.

It’s believed the getaway car sped off in the direction of the Spa Glen area of the town.

Gardaí are studying further CCTV footage in Mallow.

It bore all the hallmarks of similar raids carried out in the North Cork area about 18 months ago.

At the time is was suspected that a number of foreign nationals were involved in a gang which stole valuable perfumes from pharmacies in the Mallow and Charleville areas.

The garda spokesman said they couldn’t rule out the possibility that it was the same gang responsible for this raid.

Garda forensic experts carried out a detailed examination of the Boots branch yesterday.

“We are anxious to speak to anybody who was in the town around that time and who may have seen anything suspicious,” the spokesman said.

*Contact Mallow Garda Station at 022 21105.