TWO MOTORCYCLISTS who made it look like they had been in a crash went on to rob at knife-point the man who stopped to help them, according to gardaí.
The owner of a mini-market at Greengates in Dundalk, Co Louth, was told his wife and child would be in danger if he did not return and open up the shop to hand over the day’s takings.
Gardaí in Dundalk are investigating the theft which took place at 10.15pm on Wednesday when the shopkeeper was driving towards his home in Knockbridge, some 10km west of Dundalk.
He saw the two men, who were dressed in motorbike gear and wearing helmets. Their motorbike was lying on the side of the road.
Thinking they had been in an accident, he pulled in and went over to see if he could help.
One of the men produced a knife and threatened to harm his wife and child if he did not return to the shop with them.
He did this and gardaí say the men escaped with a small amount of cash.
A Garda spokesman said the man would not have been expecting to be under surveillance and one source described it as “despicable”. The victim was uninjured but shaken by what happened.
Gardaí are examining CCTV footage in an effort to identify the culprits and have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious either near the shop or on the Cavan road, Knockbridge, on Wednesday night to contact Dundalk gardaí or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666 111.