A substantial quantity of perfume was stolen in a break-in at Fermoy Medical Hall overnight on Thursday last. Two males wearing balaclavas and gloves were seen entering the premises between 4 and 4.30am after forcing the lock on the front door of the MacCurtain Street pharmacy.

They got away with a considerable haul of the expensive products. A Garda spokesman said similar break-ins were reported in the run up to Christmas last year elsewhere in the county and they believe the thieves have a market for the sale of those types of products as gifts. It is an offence for anyone to purchase items knowing or believing them to be stolen.

Gardai believe the culprits were in the vicinity for some time before they broke into the shop and are appealing to anyone who may have seen them or witnessed any suspicious activity around that time, to contact them.