Armed robber caught within minutes in Laois-Offaly

AN armed robber was caught within minutes by a garda on foot patrol this afternoon.

The man was carrying a firearm when he was intercepted by a lone garda, just after a robbery at a business premises.

Laois-Offaly gardaí said tonight that the culprit was arrested following ‘a short foot pursuit’, after the garda ran after him down the street when he tried to escape.

The garda was on the beat in Tullamore town centre when he spotted suspicious activity in a business outlet.

The alert garda intercepted a male, who had just carried out a robbery at the premises. The suspect began to run but was caught after a short but dramatic chase.

Garda said tonight on social media that the man was stopped ‘within moments’ of the robbery.

The An Garda Síochána Laois Offaly post said: ‘A Garda member on foot patrol in Tullamore town centre this afternoon observed suspicious activity and, within moments, intercepted a male who had just carried out a robbery at a local business premises.

‘Following a short foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended and a firearm was recovered.’ 

The individual is currently detained for questioning at Tullamore Garda Station.