The fast response of Garda detectives and the staff of TSB and a chemist shop on the main street in Castlebar this morning, has resulted in a woman getting back two and a half thousand euro that she withdrew from the bank at around 11am this morning.
The woman, who does not wish to be named, told Midwest News this afternoon that she had gone into the TSB bank and withdrew the large sum of money in cash. It was put into an envelope into her handbag.
On the way out of the bank she went into the John O’Donnell’s chemist shop across the street and while she was in the chemist shop two women entered and asked the assistant about perfume and left without purchasing anything.
The woman that had withdrawn the cash, looked at her bag as the two women exited the shop and realised that the envelope with the cash was gone.
The chemist owner and staff immediately contacted the gardai, and with the assistance of bank staff and CCTV in both premises they saw the two women watching the woman with the cash as she entered the chemist shop.
The two detectives who had arrived quickly on the scene spoke to a passerby who had noticed a woman put on a wig as she left the chemist shop and headed towards a bus stop.
The detectives decided to follow the Dublin bus and stopped the bus en route within the county and boarded the bus and discovered both women and the envelope and the money.
The women are in garda custody at present as a result.
The victim of the crime is encouraging people to be very alert and careful when withdrawing money and has thanked the detectives, and the staff of both the TSB and the chemist shop for their assistance.
