Thieves take £65,000 in outdated currency

Gardai today put banks and shopkeepers on alert after thieves took £65,000 (€100,000), mainly in in outdated Irish currency, from a Dublin charity.

The cash, in Irish punt and British sterling coins, was stolen at gunpoint this morning from the Pennies from Heaven charitable organisation’s base near the centre of Dublin.

Three men, one carrying a shotgun, forced their way into the premises and demanded cash collected earlier this year during the changeover from the punt to the European single European.

Throughout that period, collection boxes were positioned in banks, shops and other public premises inviting people to hand over spare cash in the outgoing currency or other denominations.

During the raid, two security personnel were overpowered and tied up. They were left uninjured.

Gardai said the money stolen was made up of £46,000 in one punt coins, £10,000 in 50 pence coins and £25,000 in 20 pence pieces.

A garda spokesman said “We are asking shop owners and financial institutions to be on the lookout for persons trying to exchange or lodge large quantities of old Irish or sterling coins.”