Appeal for public’s help in tracking down raiders

Gardai have renewed their appeal for information following last week's armed raid on a cash in transit security man as he delivered cash to Nobber Post Office. Door-to-door enquiries have been carried out by local Gardai along the getaway route the raiders are believed to have taken place but it is understood that no significant information has emerged. At around 10.20am last Wednesday, 10th November, a cash in transit van pulled up at the post office intending to make a cash delivery. The driver got out of the van and entered the post office with a cash box, believed to have contained €20,000. As the worker entered the post office, he was followed by a gunman who confronted him and threatened him, ordering that he hand over the cash box. The gunman was wearing a black baseball cap and had a black scarf covering his face. He was wearing a black jacket which had a red logo on the chest area. The worker handed over the cash box and the gunman left the scene in a waiting white Peugeot van, being driven by an accomplice. It is understood that the van had a 09 D registration and is believed to have come from the Ardee direction. The alarm was immediately raised by both the cash delivery worker and the staff member on duty in the post office. The white van left at speed in the direction of Navan and turned right at Spiddal Cross and right again at Rahood Cross, towards Kilmainhamwood. The vehicle was abandoned at Whitewood Lake where it was set on fire. Firefighters from Nobber Fire Service were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze. The two men at that stage changed to a black vehicle, being driven by a third person and left the scene. It is not known in which direction they left. The Garda Air Support Unit was directed quickly to the scene but no trace of the vehicle was found. Door-to-door enquiries were carried in the area but no significant information has been uncovered. CCTV footage in the village have also been examined and the Garda investigation is ongoing. The cash box contained some €20,000 in cash and would have contained a red dye mechanism, which should have activiated when the box was opened. Neither the cash box nor any trace of the money have been recovered. The post office is located just yards from the local Garda station but it is understood that a garda were not in the station at the time but was on patrol in the local area. He was quickly on the scene after the lightning raid occurred. Gardai are appealing for anyone with any information in relation to the raid to contact them. It is believed that the white Peugot van came from the Ardee direction and Gardai are asking that anyone who may have noticed the vehicle in the area in the days preceding the raid or anyone who noticed a black car driving at speed around the time of the incident to contact them. Local TD Shane McEntee has condemned the armed raid on Nobber Post Office and said he is appalled by the action of the thieves. He said: “It is disgraceful to think of this happening anywhere, let alone in such a small, quiet village. For a post office to be robbed in broad daylight and at such close proximity to the Garda station, it just goes to show the extent to which some people will go to. “The people of Nobber and the surrounding areas who depend on the post office and its services cannot believe what has happened. I would call on anyone who was in the village at the time or who might have seen anything suspicious to contact the local Gardaí. I would also urge everyone to co-operate with the Gardai and to help them with their inquiries.â€