DESCRIPTIONS have been issued of a young couple who carried out a spate of robberies on elderly people living alone in three counties over five hours. Seven houses were targeted but only a small quantity of cash and jewellry was taken.
The man and woman in their early 20s first broke into a home in Longford on Wednesday afternoon, before ransacking two houses in Tuam, Co Galway at around 6 p.m. They then raided the home of an 87 year old man living in Glenamaddy, north of Tuam, but fled when he discovered them.
They later robbed four houses in Roscommon, with people living alone again being the targets. In at least two cases, they attempted to deceive their victims before gaining access.
Gardai at one point tracked their vehicle, a dark green Toyota Carina, to Athleague, Co Roscommon. The man is described as being about 20 years, 5 ft 8 in, with blond/fair hair and wearing a beige leather jacket. His companion was of a similar age with long dark hair and a pale complexion. She is about 5 ft 3 in.
"There was no violence and no injuries," Supt Bill Fennell of Tuam said, "but the people robbed were very upset by the ordeal. We are particularly anxious to apprehend these people who are preying on old, defenceless people. Obviously, they had some prior knowledge of the houses they had picked."
Robberies of elderly people living alone, particularly in rural areas, have been increasing in recent months. The most notorious case was in Co Galway last month, when two elderly men living in remote areas were severely beaten by two men who left empty handed after interrogating their victims.