Gardaí are investigating an armed robbery which took place last Thursday outside the Hodges Figgis bookshop on campus.
The incident occurred around 1:45pm as takings were being transported from the bookshop to a secure cash-in-transit van. Two male raiders, one of whom was reportedly brandishing a handgun, appeared on bikes and seized the cash box before making their getaway on foot.
Hodges Figgis employee, Simon Turner said the thieves made off with a sum of €1,500. This is the first incident of its kind to have occurred at the DCU branch.
Turner first heard about the raid when a woman came into the shop asking whether anybody had called security as a robbery was taking place outside. A security guard had collected takings from the shop as normal a few minutes previously.
DCUfm show ‘Lunchtime Sauce’ was broadcasting from the DCUfm studio at the time of the incident and broke the news live as events unfolded. Eyewitnesses also spoke to the DCUfm News team in the immediate aftermath. One student described how he saw one of the men push the security guard against the side of his van and “grabbed the money”.
No shots were fired and no-one was injured during the incident, but according to witnesses, one of the men was heard shouting to his accomplice “shoot him”.
In a similar development, armed raiders made off with what was described as a “modest sum” after holding up Bank of Ireland’s flagship branch at College Green, across from Trinity College, hours earlier on Thursday morning. It is not yet known whether the two incidents are related.
Gardaí at Ballymun are investigating the incident, while DCU Security refused to comment on the matter while an investigation is currently underway.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone with information to contact Ballymun Garda Station at 01 666 4400 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Sarah Bermingham
News Reporter
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