A gang suspected by gardaí of being behind attacks on pensioners in Co Donegal pretended to be selling household goods before robbing their victims.
The gang, believed to be from across the Border in Derry, struck in Buncrana and Muff in Inishowen, terrifying their victims on Tuesday evening.
In the first attack, at Mamore Gap near Buncrana, John Gallagher (65) had his home ransacked before the gang locked him in a shed.
The five-man gang then drove to Ture near Muff where they beat up an 80- year-old woman before leaving the scene in a blue or grey Proton car.
Garda Insp David Murphy said both victims received calls to their homes in the afternoon before the attack by people claiming to be selling household goods.
“We believe there could be a link as both people received calls from people claiming to be selling household goods.
“One of these was a woman with short brown hair and they were in a car with the same description as we believe was involved in both crimes.
More than 15 older people have been the victim of raids across Donegal in the past two weeks.
Mayor of Donegal Frank McBrearty said Garda management was not doing enough to prevent further attacks. He said that, if necessary, the Army should be deployed to back up gardaí who claim they are under-resourced. “Whatever approach the gardaí are taking is simply not working and yet another two burglaries by a gang from across the Border last night is proof of that.” He called on Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to examine the setting up a taskforce to tackle crime along the Border.
Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle has also called for the Garda presence to be increased. He said gardaí had no chance of catching culprits with current resources.