Security firm acts to foil cash raiders

One of the State's biggest cash-in-transit security firms, Brinks Allied, has taken delivery of a new fleet of vehicles which include extra security measures to prevent money being stolen from them including special "smoke and dye" boxes which will destroy notes if forced open.

Brinks Allied last night said the new measures would make it virtually impossible for armed criminals to snatch money.

The company is also reviewing how it trains and selects its staff "to ensure that every possible angle is covered in regard to reducing opportunity and minimising risk to staff". It said it had taken the new steps because of the unprecedented level of robberies in recent months, the worst in 15 years, on its vans delivering cash to ATM machines.

The company's operations director, Mr Alan Jordan, said the cash-in-transit industry was now "under siege" from armed gangs. He said companies such as his, along with financial institutions and the Garda, must now work together to prevent further financial losses and possible loss of life.

Mr Jordan said he shared fears expressed last week by Chief Supt Martin Donnellan of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation that somebody would get killed if the spate of recent robberies was not brought to a halt.

The NBCI and Emergency Response Unit, backed by local gardaí in north and west Dublin, have established Operation Delivery, aimed at tackling armed gangs who have been responsible for stealing more than €2 million from vans delivering to ATMs since late last year.

The operation is based in Harcourt Square and resulted in eight arrests last week.

"The present situation in regard to cash escorts is most worrying for us as security providers, and especially for our individual staff members who are under threat every day," Mr Jordan said.

"In 2003 we had eight armed attacks in total. We have now had the same number for the first six months of 2004.

"We are aware of another cash escort provider who had 13 armed attacks in 2003 and has had 21 so far this year."

Mr Jordan said the two firms combined hold more than 70 per cent of the cash-in-transit market in the Republic.

Brinks Allied took delivery of new vans from the UK and the Netherlands at the weekend and these will be put into operation from today.