Thurles Bank Robbery – Thieves Foiled by Front Door

Gardaí in Thurles, Co.Tipperary are appealing for help from the the public, following an attempted robbery at the Ulster Bank in in the town, at about 5.00pm yesterday evening.

The thieves attempted to ram the front doors of the Ulster Bank in the town shortly after it closed for business on Friday evening, using a silver Toyota Land Cruiser as their battering ram. However the thieves were foiled in their quest possibly because the front of the vehicle was too large to get past two perpendicular steel support structures, positioned on either side of the banks main entrance. Only minor damage was done to the doors of the banks.

Gardaí believe the Silver Toyoto Land Cruiser was stolen in Dublin last September and the original plates on the vehicle removed and replaced using a false registration number.

The thieves were forced to abandon their vehicle and unconfirmed reports state that the occupant or occupants possibly escaped on foot, climbing over the wall at the rear of the Haye’s Hotel, and escaping in the darkness through the Ursuline Convent Secondary school grounds. It is believed that other transport possibly may have been waiting on the Thurles to Roscrea Road, supporting the thieves in their getaway.

While local Police were immediately on the scene, within seconds of the alarm being raised, darkness and heavy slow moving  traffic, at that time of the evening , did little to assist them in their pursuit of those responsible.