A supermarket manager was kidnapped and held overnight in a robbery at Superquinn in Dundalk Co Louth.
The man was kidnapped after by a number of men on his way home from work at the Carroll Village Shopping Centre after he had locked up last night.
A Garda spokesman said: "He was taken to an undisclosed outdoor location in a car where he was held overnight. "This morning he was brought back to the store where he was held along with two female members of staff who had arrived at work.
"The culprits subsequently made off with a substantial amount of cash and left the 3 members of staff unharmed."
Gardai were notified at approximately 10.15am this morning and immediately launched an investigation.
A black Almera van, registration number 99 D 7362 was used in the getaway and was recovered north of the border this morning.
Detectives have asked members of the public who may have seen the van or may have any information to contact them at Dundalk on 042 9388400 or use the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
It is the second kidnapping in Co Louth recently. Two weeks ago, a family were held captive overnight when four armed and masked men broke into their Clogherhead home.
The gang then made Marie O'Neill, who is manager of the Permanent TSB at Northside Shopping Centre in Coolock, north Dublin, assist them in the theft of €820,000 while her family were held hostage.