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Fahan businesswoman in raid ordeal
01.09.11
by Linda McGrory
A YOUNG Inishowen businesswoman has described her
ordeal this week when she was confronted by three
raiders at her isolated rural premises.
Thirty-year old Jackie Craig was on her first day
back from maternity leave at her Willow Hill garden
centre, Fahan, when the thieves struck. The suspects
then drove on to the historic Grianan of Aileach
ringfort where they stole property valued at some
€3,000 from two tourist cars.
A "shaken up" Ms Craig yesterday said she will never
work alone at her garden centre again following
Monday’s incident.
The mum of two described how she was settling into
the working day about 10.30am when a car and three
male occupants pulled up.
"The driver got out and asked me to show him
something suitable for a grave. I led him over to
the planters and as I was passing their car, the
rear occupant covered his face so I immediately
thought something was wrong. |
"I was on my own so I
didn't want to make the situation any worse. I stood
at the entrance of the tunnel and the man walked on
in. I knew he was trying to keep me distracted.
"I looked back at the car and saw one of the men
crouched down getting back into the car with gloves
on and his hand over his face. As I made my way back
to the car, the driver ran past me, jumped into the
driver's seat and sped off."
Jackie who runs the business with husband Carl, lost
€175 in notes and coins but is thankful she wasn't
physically hurt. She was delighted to be able to
supply perfect CCTV footage of the crime to local
Gardai.
"One of the men had come in and took the drawer of
the till. I had the key of the till in my pocket but
he knew there was a release button underneath tills. |
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Jackie Craig who says she will never
again work alone at her rural garden centre
following a raid by three thieves. |
"He looked around but
couldn't spot the camera but he looked directly up
at it and we have a very good shot of him." The
culprits, believed to be in their 20s, were driving
a 1999 Opel saloon and Jackie was also able to
supply its registration and description to
investigators. The 'shopper' also left finger prints
on one of the planters he was purporting to buy.
Gardai are now actively searching for the thieves,
who spoke with southern accents and were wearing
items of sports clothing including baseball caps and
tracksuit bottoms.
"In one incident, between 11am and 11.20am, a parked
red Citroen car was broken into at an Grianan and
€800 in cash, a laptop valued at €1,000 and two
mobile phones were taken," said a Garda
spokesperson.
"A second car, a Ford Mondeo was also broken into
and a handbag and €500 in cash was taken." The
spokesperson confirmed that the Opel car seen
earlier at Willow Hill was connected to the Grianan
crimes.
Meanwhile, Jackie Craig who has an infant son and an
11 year old son, urged local businesses to be extra
vigilant as thieves, both opportunistic and
organised, scour the countryside for victims.
"I wasn't hurt but it has left me very shaken and
feeling very uncomfortable. I have been in that
garden centre since I was knee high to a grasshopper
and there was never a day that I was afraid but now
I will never be up there on my own again nor will I
have any staff up there on their own," she added.
Gardai urged anyone with information to contact them
on 07493 20540. |
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