Gang goes on crime spree over 3 counties

A woman and a neighbour were subjected to a terrifying ordeal during an attempted burglary and a carjacking at gunpoint.

Gardaí are seeking the public’s help in identifying a three-man gang that went on a crime spree across three counties on Wednesday.

The gang stole a red VW Golf with a 08 Laois registration at around 4pm that day from the GAA grounds in Durrow, Co Laois.

They then drove to south Kildare, where they carried out a burglary at Graney West in Castledermot between 5pm and 5.30pm. Their red VW was spotted at the scene.

There was no one in the house but some items were stolen from the property.

From there, the gang drove north to Eadestown, outside Naas, where gardaí believe they were attempting another break-in.

The men drove into the front of a house but, for whatever reason, drove onto the front garden and became stuck in the grounds.

A woman who was in the house on her own was startled and rang a neighbour.

This man arrived in his jeep and found the car and men in the front garden.

Gardaí said the men ran at him and one pointed a gun at him and hijacked his jeep, a black Range Rover with 07-WW registration.

“It looks like a burglary gone wrong and they pulled a gun at this neighbour and took his jeep and high-tailed it,” said a garda source.

No one was injured, but gardaí said it was a terrifying ordeal for the woman and her neighbour.

The gang drove towards Rathmore in Kildare and onwards to Lucan, west Dublin, where they abandoned the vehicle.

Gardaí are trying to establish where the three men went then and are examining CCTV and conducting local enquiries. Forensic tests are being conducted on the jeep.

Gardaí have asked witnesses to contact them at Naas Gardaí 045-884300, the Garda Confidential Line 1-800-666-111 or any Garda Station.

It is the latest carjacking in the general area.

Last month, there were two carjackings in Finglas, north Dublin, in the space of 24 hours.

In the first attack, a businessman was dragged from his Audi A5 coupe at Finglas Business Park on the Tolka Valley Road.

In the second incident, a man was pulled from his Mitsubishi Lancer at gunpoint as he was stuck in traffic near the Clearwater Shopping Centre.

A man has been arrested in relation to both cases.