This article is from page 2 of the 2011-05-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
GARDAÍ investigating the theft of thousands of Euro worth of jewellery from a business in Kilrush say the break-in was “well-planned”.
Around € 150,000 worth of jewellery was stolen in the raid at Hartmann’s jewellers on Moore Street last Monday.
According to gardaí, homemade ladders were used to climb a wall at the back of the premises.
Entry was then gained via a small pane of glass by using cutting equipment. Several presentation trays of jewellery, including diamond rings, bracelets, watches and pendants, were stolen in the raid.
“It was well planned. They knew what they were doing. They had to have some knowledge of it. They would have had to know the premises,” said Kilrush Superintendent Gerry Wall.
“We are following a number of lines of enquiry,” he added.
Gardaí say they have not yet ascertained how many people were involved in the break-in to the longstanding business.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information to come forward, particularly anyone aware of jewellery being sold.
“We are hoping that the public will come forward, especially if the jewellery is being sold on. The local community may see some of this being sold,” said Supt Wall.
Businesswoman Maria Hartmann, of Hartmann’s jewellery, said she and her husband Michael were shocked to discover the break-in.
“This is a nightmare. It is the worst possible nightmare you could ever wake up to; your livelihood destroyed,” she told Clare FM’s Morn- ing Focus on Friday.
She appealed to anyone with information on the break-in to contact the gardaí.
“Somebody knows something and I’m begging you to do the right thing,” she said.
“This is horrific. This is what we built up over a lifetime,” she said.
Meanwhile, gardaí in Kilrush are also investigating a break-in to a pub in the town last Wednesday. A small sum of cash was taken in the breakin to the premises. Gardaí say they are not ruling out the possibility that both incidents are linked.