Gardaí believe aggravated burglaries could be linked

Athlone Gardaí are working on the possibility that two recent aggravated burglaries are connected, it's emerged.

Sgt Dermot Monaghan from Athlone Garda Station said today (Monday) that there are in the “early stages of the investigations” and are pursuing a number of lines of inquiries in both cases.

However, they think the two incidents, the first in the Cornamaddy/Ballykeeran area on September 2, and the second just last week (September 8) in Cartron Drive, where two people were assaulted, are connected.

Both incidents have shocked the local area given that they targeted older people and came within just days of each other.

While much CCTV footage has been examined, Sgt Monaghan appealed for anyone with private camera footage or dash cam in either area to make it available to officers as part of their investigation.

He also made a fresh appeal for witnesses or anyone who was in the Retreat Road or Cartron Drive estate area of Athlone between 5pm and 6.30pm on September 8, and believes they may have seen something out of the ordinary, to make contact with them.

Shortly after 6pm, two individuals entered a property, and a male in his 80s and a female in her 70s were assaulted. A sum of cash was taken during the course of this incident.

The man received medical treatment at the scene from paramedics for his injuries.

Similarly, officers want to speak to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the Cornamaddy/Ballykeeran area on Saturday, September 2, in which a man (79) was assaulted.

In this case, the man was attacked by a number of individuals at a domestic residence, and a sum of cash was taken during the incident.

He was later taken to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information about either aggravated burglary is asked to contact Athlone Garda Station on 090 649 2600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.