GARDAI are to meet police in Wales and England to try to break an organised trade in antique furniture stolen in the Republic.
The thefts of £1 million worth of antiques have taken place in the greater Dublin area - with a cluster in the southern part of counties Louth and Meath - over the last two years. A senior garda said the goods were turning up for sale in the UK within 48 hours of being stolen.
Some thefts occurred while the occupants were at home. Gardai are concerned at the confidence of the thieves in stealing what are often large items of furniture in such circumstances.
"This is a well organised and operated gang ... they are stealing here to sell in the UK," said Supt Fergus Doggitt of Drogheda.
The area covered by the Louth/Meath Garda division has been hit a number of times by the gang. In the greater Drogheda area up to £80,000 worth of antiques has been taken, although nearly half of this has been recovered.
"These people are stealing before antique fairs in the UK and we have been co operating with the police there. There is also very close co operation between the people in the trade and trade magazines here and the distributors there," he added.
Carlow and Kilkenny have also been hit by groups of mobile traders who travel continuously between Ireland and the UK. Once the goods leave the Republic, it is difficult to trace them. At large antique fairs in England and mainland Europe people are often willing to pay better prices.
"Our inquiries have taken us into various counties. We are based in Surrey but the villains do not live here ... some of the property has been traced to Nottingham and Portsmouth," said Det Jacqueline Smith of Dorking police, who is involved in coordinating the investigation.
"We have a national inquiry under way, this is a very high quality network of moving antiques in England, Ireland and Wales and even to the US - what we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg," she said.
A meeting of the investigating police in the Republic, England and Wales is being organised to identify the routes used for the transport of the stolen furniture. Det Smith believes the items can circulate for a period within Ireland before being exported, while a garda said he believed they were being moved out of the country almost immediately after being stolen.