GARDAÍ HAVE called for assistance in tracking down three raiders who broke into a house in Clonakilty in west Cork and forced a teenage girl downstairs to the family restaurant to open a safe which contained thousands of euro.
The incident occurred shortly after 5am last Saturday when the men entered the bedroom of the girl in her late teens at the family home above the Rossa Grill in Clonakilty.
The masked men forced open a rear window of the house and made their way to the girl’s bedroom.
The men ordered the girl to go to the ground floor of the building, which is a takeaway restaurant.
They made the teenager open a safe which contained several thousand euro in cash. They then tied her up before making their getaway. The girl was at home alone because her parents were away for the weekend. She managed to free herself after an hour and called a relative who contacted gardaí in Bandon.
The girl was shocked by the incident but did not incur any physical injuries.
Minutes before they received the call gardaí had been informed that a car was burning at Shannonvale outside Clonakilty. It is thought this car may be linked to the case. The car is to be forensically examined.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have seen individuals acting suspiciously in the area on Saturday morning to come forward.
They are looking for three masked raiders, one of whom was in the region of 182 cms (6ft) and the others between 170 cms (5ft 7in) and 175 cms (5ft 9in).
Anyone with information is asked to call Clonakilty Garda station on 023-33202.