Cash stolen from pensioner's wallet in busy Limerick post office

GARDAI are appealing to people who are out and about between now and Christmas to be vigilant with their personal property.

It follows a number of theft incidents involving shoppers who were carrying our errands ahead of Christmas Day.

"We are all busy at this time of year but your advice is to slow down and check that you have all of your property before you move on. There are queues in shops and in post offices around Limerick but, please, take your time," said divisional crime prevention officer Sergeant Ber Leetch.

In one incident which has been highlighted, A man in his early seventies was posting off cards and parcels in a local post office when he became distracted and left his wallet behind him.

"His wallet contained €200 in cash and his driver’s licence. When he realised that his wallet was missing he rushed back but the wallet was gone," said Sgt Leetch.

Investigating gardai have identified two suspects - a male and female -  having viewed CCTV from the post office.

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In a separate incident, a woman, in her early sixties, was doing her grocery shopping in a shopping centre in Limerick city when she was targeted by an opportunist thief.

According to gardai, the woman hung her handbag off the shopping trolley while she packed her groceries into the boot of her car.

"She returned her trolley to the bay but accidentally left her handbag on it. Again, when she realised her mistake she
returned but the handbag was gone," said Sgt Leetch who added that CCTV has also been on assistance to investigating gardai.

"I think both of these cases show how rushed and distracted we can get so slow down and double-check that you have all your valuables before you leave a premises," she stated.