Thief In Hi-Vis Jacket Steals Postman's Mailbag (an Post)

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A Co Clare postman was left shaken after he was approached by a man wearing a luminous high-visibility jacket who grabbed his mailbag and ran off.

It was second time in just over a week that the same postman was targeted while carrying out his rounds in Shannon.

In the first incident on August 19th, a bundle of mail was taken from a bag on the postman's bicycle which he had parked outside a house while he was delivering in the Ard na Greinne area of the town. The postman returned to his bike to find that a single bundle of letters was missing. He promptly reported the matter to the company who notified gardaí.

Last Friday at Rineanna View in Shannon, a man wearing a high-visibility jacket approached the same postal worker and grabbed the mailbag from his shoulder before running away. The postman was not harmed or threatened in the incident but was left shaken by the incident. Gardaí were again quickly informed.

An Post has confirmed: "Our investigation branch and the Gardaí are investigating both incidents. In the first incident, a small bundle of mail was taken from the postman's bag. Last Friday, a guy wearing a high-vis jacket over his clothing approached a postman and grabbed the bag from his shoulder. This happened close to the end of the postman's round and so mail for just two areas was taken."

Customers in the Carrig Lane and Carrig View areas of Shannon have been advised of the incident and have been asked to check what mail they think might have been stolen and to advise An Post. "We have been in contact with residents in both these areas and have advised them of what happened," An Post has said.

The company has also confirmed that the postman was not harmed in either incident but was left 'shaken' after the second robbery.

A Garda spokesman confirmed: "Both incidents have been reported to us and Gardaí in Shannon are investigating the matter." Gardaí are investigating a possible link between the two incidents and have not ruled out the possibility that the same individual was involved.

Gardaí have also warned locals in Shannon to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious in the area immediately.

An Post has also confirmed that its own investigation branch is undertaking its own probe of the incidents. After the first incident, the company also advised staff in its Shannon office to be vigilant and not to leave postbags unattended.