Raiders abandon security van raid

ARMED raiders fled empty-handed from the scene of a botched security van robbery outside a Galway shopping centre despite shots being fired in the air and a tussle between the guard and one of the would-be robbers.

The raiders robbers caused panic outside a shopping centre in Galway after driving up behind the security van, jumping out and firing at least two shots in the air.

There was a short tussle with one of the guards but no money was handed over and the raiders fled in the 4x4 vehicle.

The robbers are believed to come from Dublin as the vehicle, a Pajero Jeep, was stolen in the city on Wednesday.

It was discovered abandoned in the Laurel Park area of Galway shortly after the raid.

The Securicor van arrived at the shopping centre to fill a bank machine at the front of the building around 10.20am.

Gardaí are seeking two men in connection with the raid.

One is described as 5’10, the other 6’2. Both raiders, who were masked, are said to be of thin build.

When contacted yesterday afternoon about the raid and the obvious bravery of its staff members in the face of an armed attack, a Securicor manager said: “I know nothing about it.”

Kevin McMahon, of SIPTU, said of the armed attack: “This is in line with what has being going on since the start of the year.”

There have been over 30 armed raids on cash escort vans so far this year, compared to approximately 20 for all of 2003.

Securicor vans have been targeted by armed raiders 22 times this year while Brinks Allied staff have been hit eight times.

The sharp rise in the number of cash in transit robberies and attempted robberies led to the establishment of a special Garda squad.

Operation Delivery brought together 25 detectives at a special incident room in Dublin headquarters. A number of gangs from Dublin suspected of being involved in the raids have been targeted in the operation.