Gardai to examine if raids on ATMs are linked

Gardaí in Dublin are investigating possible links between an armed raid on an ATM machine in the city yesterday and two similar incidents, in Dublin and Kildare, in the last nine days. Around €500,000 is believed to have been taken in the three robberies.

Gardaí in Naas, Cabinteely and Blanchardstown have already begun sharing intelligence on the raids and are expected to meet to discuss the search for the raiders.

Two houses in Finglas were raided yesterday in connection with the second of the three robberies, which took place on the Carpenterstown Road, Castleknock, at around 12.40 p.m. on Wednesday. No arrests were made during yesterday's Garda operation.

The latest hold-up took place at Old Bray Road, Cornelscourt, at 11.30 a.m. yesterday. Three masked raiders, one armed with a pump-action shotgun, held up security staff as they delivered cash to an ATM at the Allied Irish Bank, Cornelscourt. A large amount of cash, believed to be in the region of €200,000, was stolen. No shots were fired and nobody was injured.

The men escaped from the scene in a vehicle which was found a short time later at a cul-de-sac in the nearby St Brigid's housing estate. They are believed to have transferred into a second vehicle in the estate.

Gardaí said the raid was well planned. The raiders are believed to have carried out an extensive surveillance operation at the scene and are believed to have known when the cash van would arrive.

Wednesday's robbery in Castleknock was carried out in a similar style. On that occasion, a four-man armed and masked gang struck as a security van was loading an ATM machine located in a shop on Carpenterstown Rd.

The van had pulled into an alley beside the shop and a gate had been locked while unloading took place. However, the gang pulled down the gate using a chain attached to their car. They then threatened staff with a shotgun and escaped with over €100,000.

No shots were fired and there were no injuries. Gardaí believe the four-man gang were in their late teens or early 20s. Two cars were used during the attack, a blue Volkswagen Passat and a blue Toyota Corolla. The Corolla, which was stolen in Lucan last month, was later recovered close to the crime scene.

Last Thursday, February 12th, a three-man gang held up a security van unloading money at an ATM at Maynooth College. The raid took place at 4 p.m. A handgun was used to threaten staff but no shots were fired and there were no injuries.

A silver Ford Focus used by the raiders was recovered nearby. It is believed the men travelled towards Dublin in a white van and on a motorcycle. Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information on any of the three robberies to come forward.

Gardaí have identified around five Dublin-based gangs who they believe have been targeting cash in transit vans in the last 12 to 18 months.