Armed raiders locked up a family in their home at Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, before escaping with a substantial quantity of cash.
The raid happened at around 10.45pm last night when a group a five armed and masked men entered the house at Leonsbeg, about 4km from Carrickmacross.
The men locked two women and five children into a garage and then removed a safe from the house.
They left the house taking the house owners Blue Mercedes Van which gardaí later found burnt out at Forkill, South Armagh.
The alarm was raised at 6am this morning and no injuries have been reported.
The scene is sealed off for technical examination.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact Carrickmacross Garda Station telephone 042-9690190 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666111.