Daylight robbery

January 2009

AN EMPLOYEE of Butler’s Pantry in Wicklow town was put through a terrifying ordeal when confronted with a man armed with a large kitchen knife the day before New Year’s Eve.

While the female staff member was physically unharmed during the ordeal, the culprit managed to escape in broad daylight along Main Street at around 12.45 p.m. in possession of a sizeable amount of cash.

Normally at this time of day Wicklow would be thriving with people out shopping or about to take their lunch break, but on Tuesday most people were still off work on their Christmas holidays.

Wicklow Gardaí remain convinced that some members of the public must have witnessed the main suspect, even if they weren’t aware of the importance of the sighting at the time.

‘It all happened very quick. He entered the shop with a knife and demanded some money. He then escaped on foot, heading in the direction of Main Street. The girl in the shop was obviously very shook up by the incident. It was very frightening for her. We are very anxious to talk to anyone who may have noticed any suspicious behaviour between 12.30 p.m. and 1 p.m.’

The victim managed to get a good look at the man responsible and offered the gardaí a vivid description of the clothing he was wearing on the day.

He was aged in his 30s or early 40s and was around 5’9 in height. His face was covered over by navy blue scarf with a thin line design on it. He was thinly built, with a tight, grey haircut. He was dressed in a grey hoodie, blue jeans and a dark coloured beanie hat.