Staff terrified as teen gang targets shops

No arrests have yet been made by gardai investigating the two crimes, which happened in Cabra shortly after 6pm on Thursday.

Sources said that gardai suspect that local teenagers were responsible for the incidents that left staff members terrified after they were threatened with an iron bar.

The first incident happened at the Londis convenience store on Fassaugh Avenue at 6.05pm when a blue Nissan Micra pulled up outside the shop and two young men jumped out.

Gardai said that one of them was armed with an iron bar and threatened staff before the dangerous duo fled empty-handed.

One of the raiders was wearing a blue hooded top, which covered his face, and grey tracksuit bottoms, while the other male had his face covered with a black top and was wearing black tracksuit bottoms.

After this botched robbery, the youths were driven to the nearby Topaz service station on the New Cabra Road where they had more success.

Two of the gang entered the premises and again terrorised staff. On this occasion, they managed to escape with the contents of the till, understood to be a figure under €1,000.

flee

By this stage gardai were alerted and a number of units responded. The suspects managed to flee.

The Micra car that they had used in the robberies was found at St Attracta Road in Cabra later on Thursday and was forensically examined as were the two targeted properties.

"This has all the hallmarks of a local up-and-coming crew who have been causing chaos lately. Gardai are in no doubt that it was a local job.

"The worry is the next time that these lads go on the rampage, a firearm could be used," a source said.