Youth accused of taking BMW after fishing keys through letterbox

A youth stole a €35,000 BMW during a letterbox fishing burglary at a house in south co Dublin, a court was told yesterday.

The 17-year-old, who has yet to enter a plea, has been charged at the Dublin Children’s Court with burglary and motor theft at Woodstown Way in Knocklyon, which happened early on May 5. It is also alleged that about 10 days later, he was arrested at his west Dublin home and was in possession of stolen property, including a purse, a laptop computer, and a sat-nav system.

Garda Maria Dennison told Judge John O’Connor that “a bamboo pole was put though the letterbox” and keys for a ’08-reg five series BMW car were “fished out”.

The BMW was stolen and has not been recovered.

Garda Dennison said that CCTV footage showed the boy approaching the house with the pole and taking the car.

When his home was later searched the purse, laptop, and sat-nav system, which were stolen in separate incidents, were recovered.

Judge O’Connor held that the case was too serious to be dealt with in the juvenile court which, on conviction, could have detained the teen for up to two years. He held that the boy’s case should be dealt with in the circuit court, which has tougher sentencing powers.