Hole in the roof gang strikes again

GARDAÍ in the west are today (Wednesday) hunting a sophisticated 'hole in the roof' gang who disconnected phones, internet and CCTV connections overnight before plundering  a village supermarket, petrol forecourt and bar in west Sligo.

The gang, who numbered at least four, were all wearing balaclavas when they struck in the early hours at Feeney's in the coastal village of Dromore West, some 20 miles from Sligo and 14 miles from Ballina.

They have been dubbed the 'hole in the roof' gang because of their ruthless and apparently unique expertise in recent months at forcing their way through roofs and making off with large amounts of cash and cigarettes.

In recent weeks, in a similar operation to this morning's raid in Dromore West, the gang struck hit Corcoran's Fuel & Corner Shop, Knockmore, Ballina, about 20 miles away.

A section of old blue Bangor type slates was ripped from Feeney's by the gang who are believed to have spent at least several hours at the location.

Shop owner Blair Feeney told Midwest Radio this morning: 'These guys had their research well done. They were well equipped with power tools.

“They used power tools, rechargeable devices, to open the cash safes and the cigarette safes.

'All our phones and cash registers are out of order following the raid. It may be tomorrow (Thursday) before we are back in business.”

There have been strikingly similar raids in other parts of the country this year. The Dromore West and the recent operation at Knockmore are similar to a break-in at Glin, Co. Limerick, earlier this year when €30,000 in cash and stock was stolen.

In all cases, the gang involved used industrial cutting equipment to get in through a roof and skilfully disable phone, internet and CCTV links.

Also, in all cases, gang members spent a considerable amount of time on the premises targeted.