Security staff demand safer system after €500,000 raid

CASH-IN-TRANSIT workers yesterday criticised the lack of progress in installing “end-to-end” delivery systems.

Their anger followed a dramatic raid on a security van at Donaghmede Shopping Centre in north Dublin on Tuesday in which almost €500,000 was stolen.

The raiders, one armed with a submachine-gun, drove the arm of a JCB through the windscreen of the van, entered and took cash from a safe opened for the delivery. In a second raid the same day, money was taken from a security van in south Dublin.

Union representatives yesterday said “end-to-end” delivery solutions were part of a code of conduct agreed between banks and security companies last Christmas.

Following two multi-million euro raids in March 2005, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said such secure systems had to be part of the code.

“The need for end-to-end solutions was part of the code, but there has been very little progress,” said Kevin McMahon of Siptu’s security branch.

“It’s not clear why. It’s a contractual matter between the banks and the cash-in-transit companies.”

Cash in “end-to-end” solutions cannot be accessed, either by crews or criminals. If they are tampered with the cash is destroyed or degraded by a built-in dye.

“It has not progressed with the haste justified by the risk posed to cash crews,” said Mr McMahon.

It is understood the cash stolen at Donaghmede was in two safes which operated on a time-lock and opened when the van arrived at the centre. Mr McMahon said the security staff were “very badly traumatised”.

Meanwhile, gardaí continued to question a man in his 50s, arrested in connection with the Donaghmede raid.

Detectives are considering whether the gang is the same as the one that stole €2.3 million in north Dublin in March 2004.