BUSINESSES and retailers are on high alert this week, following a third armed raid in the space of five days last week.

Following terrifying armed robberies at Londis in Ballycanew, and Courtown Checkout store the previous weekend, the Post Office in Kilmuckridge was targeted by a gang of three men last Wednesday afternoon.

Postmistress Emily Hammel was behind the counter at 4.15 p.m. when two armed men burst into the premises and demanded money.

Both wore scarves over their faces, and one of them shoved the barrel of a sawn-off shotgun through the gap in the glass partition and threatened her. The other man was brandishing a taser gun, which he pressed repeatedly, threatening the postmistress. The same premises was targeted by thieves six years ago.

Contrary to initial reports, it has been denied that the men got a five-figure sum of cash, with staff at the outlet saying a 'small sum' was taken. The men then walked into the adjoining supermarket, where they tried to access the locked tills, but failed, and they quickly exited to a waiting car which was driven by a third gang member.

Though everyone was left very shaken by the ordeal, no-one was hurt. Just ten minutes previously, the shop was full of students and parents after Colaiste an Atha closed for the day. However, it was largely empty when the men arrived, though it was reported one of the raiders exiting the shop grabbed a mobile phone from a student standing outside, incorrectly thinking the student was phoning the Gardai.

The blue Mitsubishi Colt, with registration plate 94 D 12844, was stolen in Tallaght the previous night. After the raid it was abandoned in nearby 'Chapel Wood' housing estate, down past Kilmuckridge Church, and the men made their escape.

One man was described as around 5 ft 10 in height, and the other around 6 ft. 2. One was wearing a navy hoodie, while the man with the gun was wearing a white hoodie, navy tracksuit bottoms and white runners.

Gardai rushed to the scene from Enniscorthy, Gorey and Wexford, approaching the village from various routes in an attempt to catch the gang.

Shay Hammel, proprietor of the adjoining supermarket, praised the Gardai for responding so swiftly, and also thanked the public for their response, phoning information to the Gardai within minutes.

Gardai in Enniscorthy are investigating the incident, and are liaising with Gardai in Gorey and Courtown, to see if there are links to the raids in the previous days. They are particularly interested if the public can help them track the movements of the Mitsubishi Colt in the hours before the raid. They are also looking for information on the movements of the three men after they abandoned the car in the housing estate.

Dick White of Gorey Chamber of Commerce said the whole business sector is concerned at the news of the raids. 'It's obviously not opportunistic,' he said. 'These people are looking for opportunities, and are targeting shops they would feel offer the least lines of resistance.'

He advised business owners not to keep large amount of cash on the premises, and to 'cash up' earlier, and ensure their systems are safe. 'They should also look at manning levels particularly going into the evening,' he said. 'I'm calling on the Gardai to put on extra patrols or to be more visible in outlying and village areas.'

- Fintan LAMBE