Gardaí arrest 10 men in raids targeting smash-and-grab gangs

MOBILE gangs, using high-power stolen cars in smash-and-grab robberies throughout Munster, Leinster and Connaught were yesterday targeted in dawn raids by gardaí.

Ten men in their 20s and 30s were arrested, more than €250,000 in cash was found and a high-powered stolen car was recovered in the operation which commenced at 6am.

Up to 100 gardaí, backed up by the armed Regional Support Units and the Criminal Assets Bureau, took part in the raids in Cork, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford.

A number of those in custody were arrested in Limerick prison.

All are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, which enables gardaí to keep those in custody for up to seven days.

It is believed those targeted belong to family gangs who are suspected of carrying out major crimes throughout Munster, Leinster and Connaught.

Their modus operandi involves the use of high-power vehicles in nighttime raids. In many incidents, glass fronts of supermarkets and convenience stores were reportedly rammed and looted.

Members of the gangs are also suspected of carrying out break-ins at private houses and have targeted elderly people in handbag snatches near community centres and bingo halls.

Some of the arrests were made on the southside of Limerick where houses and halting sites were raided.

The garda operation was headed by Det Supt Dominic Hayes in Waterford, Det Supt Jim Browne in Limerick, Det Supt Declan Mulcahy in Galway and Det Supt Sean Healy, Cork.