Elderly woman held hostage in Derry robbery

A 87-year-old woman is in hospital with shock after a “tiger robbery” at her home in Derry.

Sarah Barron and her 60-year-old son Robert were held hostage while her post office worker daughter was forced to collect money from her work and hand over a substantial sum.

According to a local Sinn Féin councillor, the pensioner escaped injury after the gang tied her up last night at her Bantry Road home in the Foyle Springs area, but she is being monitored by doctors.

Councillor William Page said: “This is something which will echo across the community, and other post masters and mistresses who are in the same position will be concerned because this is something different for this area.”

He said Liz Barron, aged in her 40s, is a senior member of staff at the post office. She was left shaken by her ordeal.

Ms Barron had to drive to Donegal to deliver the cash after taking it from a safe at Ballymagroarty Post Office this morning.

Benefit payments were doubled this week to allow for the Easter holiday so there was a lot of money at the premises.

Cllr Page said police had closed off the area while forensics experts combed the area for clues.

A police spokeswoman said: “There is an ongoing police operation into criminal activity.”

A spokeswoman for the Post Office expressed knowledge of ongoing enquiries in the Derry area.

Tiger robberies have become increasingly common in the North. They are so-known because of the way the “beast” follows its prey before it strikes.