Garda Warning to Hitch Hikers following Robbery

Hitch hikers have been warned this week to take extra care when accepting lifts following two abductions this week. An Italian tourist was robbed of E500 after taking a lift from two men outside Wicklow town.

She was hitching to Dublin but instead of continuing along the N11, the men brought the visitor to the Killiskey and Ballyduff area of Ashford where they robbed the man's money and his mobile phone.

This was followed by an assault and robbery on an 18 years old Ashford man hitching to Wicklow who was picked up by two men and taken to Barndarrig instead where the assualt and robbery took place.

Gardai are not saying whether or not the robberies are connected with the daylight raid on the Statoil garage in Wicklow on Easter Monday during which a knife was produced and a quantity of cash stolen.

Two men were later chased by Gardai in the Greystones area and arrested. They have been questioned and a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.