Thieves slashed the tyres of a Garda car and the private car of the local Garda sergeant to prevent a pursuit when they broke into a supermarket in Crossmolina, Co Mayo, early yesterday. They also raided four public houses in Easkey, and another in Dromore West, Co Sligo.
The well-planned raids were disrupted when a farmer in the Lahardane area, near Crossmolina, saw four people acting suspiciously. Gardai were alerted and the four were detained following a pursuit over open land. A Garda spokesman said a number of vehicles were strategically parked for the getaway. Five cars and property were recovered.
Four people, including two youths aged 16 and two men in their early 20s, all with Dublin addresses, were being questioned by gardai in Ballina and Castlebar last night.