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Sean McMahon

A four-man gang made off with a large haul of cigarettes from a supermarket in Kingscourt in the early hours of Tuesday morning and a high-speed chase ensued with gardaí during which the patrol car was struck, the Anglo-Celt can reveal. The gang smashed a large window at the SuperValu premises on Church Street and then proceeded inside and made their way to the strong room and are understood to have cut it open with cutting equipment. They took the haul of cigarettes from that room.

They also damaged a cigarette vending machine on the shop floor and took the cigarettes from it. The gardai received an alarm call at 1am on Tuesday morning to go to the SuperValu.

On arrival at the scene, the gardaí observed a silver Saab Estate bearing false registration plates with four men on board and they were exiting the scene. The gardaí did give chase in the direction of Navan and the car driven by the gang is understood to have impacted with the patrol car at one stage.

The gang failed to stop for the gardaí and made good their escape. It appears that the number plates were stolen from a vehicle in County Meath earlier in the night.

Two similar smash and grab raids are understood to have taken place in Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin earlier in the night.

Gardaí are investigating all incidents and the possibility that they may be linked.

Kingscourt Gardaí can be contacted at 042-9667292.