Thief caught red-handed after ATM cash raid

GARDAÍ nabbed a raider red-handed yesterday, shortly after the proceeds of his crime literally blew up in his face.

The thief stole an ATM cash box yesterday morning and ran the short distance to his home in Dublin’s north inner city.

He managed to crack open the box and caught a glimpse of the bundles of cash inside — just before dye destroyed all the loot.

“He was able to open the box, but the dye was waiting for him,” said a Garda source.

The dye is the standard security feature in ATM cash boxes and is designed to stop any successful thief in actually getting his hands on the cash.

But this raider had not heard the publicity about the security boxes.

The criminal, 29, made his move just after 7am yesterday when a security worker went to put a cash box into an ATM machine at a shopping centre on Prussia Street, in Stoneybatter.

Gardaí are familiar with the suspect.

No firearm or weapon was used in the robbery. The raider fled on foot towards the North Circular Road.

Gardaí located the man at his home shortly afterwards.

He was arrested and taken to Bridewell Garda Station and detained.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Bridewell Station are continuing investigations into the discovery of a hoax bomb on North Brunswick Street on Thursday morning.

The location is close to the Richmond District Court and officers are investigating whether or not it was the intended target.