Gardaí seek help to crack theft case

GARDAÍ were last night trying to crack the case of a gang who swiped a safe full of wages from an egg and poultry factory.

The gang broke into Shannonvale Food processors in Clonakilty, Co Cork, sometime between 11pm and 5.30am on Wednesday night and ransacked several offices.

They lifted a heavy 4ft by 4ft Chubb safe onto a hand-truck and wheeled it into the back of one of the company’s unbranded, white, refrigerated Volkwagen vans before making off towards Cork city.

Gardaí believe that up to four men would have been needed to move the safe.

It contained a substantial amount of cash, which included wages for some employees who were due to be paid yesterday.

It also contained cheque books and several sensitive company documents.

The gang abandoned the van nearly 25 miles away in a field in Ballinhassig on the outskirts of Cork city.

A farmer found it in one of his fields at lunchtime on Thursday and reported it to gardaí but the safe was not in the van.

Gardaí conducted a forensic examination of the vehicle and the Shannonvale offices and their investigations were ongoing last night.

Superintendent Pat Maher said gardaí were anxious to trace the gang’s movements before and after the robbery and to recover the safe.

He appealed for people who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously around the Clonakilty area, and around the Shannon Vale offices, in particular at about 11pm on Wednesday evening, to contact them.

He called for anyone who saw the white VW van, registration 01-C, driving between Clonakilty, Bandon and Ballinhassig to contact them.

“I would also appeal to people out walking in the Ballinhassig area to keep an eye out for the safe.”

Shannonvale built its plant back up after a devastating blaze razed to the ground in 1999. Company spokesman Noel O’Callaghan said staff were disheartened by the raid.

“But we are fighters and we will keep going,” he said.

Contact Clonakilty garda station on 023-21570.