€2m stolen in latest 'tiger' kidnapping

A husband and wife today became the latest victims of a 'tiger' kidnapping in which an armed gang got away with almost €2m.

The man was confronted at his home in the Hillcrest area of Lucan, west Dublin, last night where he was taken hostage, gardaí said.

At the same time, other members of the gang abducted his wife, drove her away and held her overnight at an unknown location.

The man was then forced to go to work for a security company as normal this morning and ordered to drive a van, packed with cash, to Carlow town where a handover was made shortly before 10am.

His wife was found at 11.30am in the Rathcoole area of west Co Dublin.

The couple were not harmed during the kidnap, but it is understood they were left severely shaken by their ordeal.

Detectives are also examining three scenes in Carlow town, Rathcoole and Lucan.

The victim’s green Toyota car was later found on Frederick Avenue, off the Athy Road in Carlow around 3.30pm.

“Any information related to this incident or sightings of the movements of this car can be given to Gardai at an investigation room which has been set up in Naas,” a Garda spokesman added.

It is the third time this year 'tiger' kidnapping gangs have struck. In the first incident, on January 7, three armed men took a security firm worker and two others hostage in Swords, north Co Dublin, before demanding cash be handed over from the company.

The attempted robbery was foiled after two of the hostages managed to escape from a derelict house in the Oldtown area of the town and alert gardaí.

In the second incident, two men targeted a young couple in the quiet village of Muff, Co Donegal.

During the cross-border robbery, the man was held at the home while his 28-year-old partner was forced to hand over cash from McDonalds fast food outlet in Derry's Waterside.

The robberies are known as 'tiger' kidnappings because the raiders stalk their prey to study their movements before striking.

The gangs require a detailed knowledge of bank or security staff including daily journeys, job responsibilities and their families - which may come with inside help from a current or former employee.

The family or friends of a member of staff is often held hostage to force the employee to participate in the robbery.

The worker is forced to enter his workplace as normal and collect cash knowing that one false move could mean loved ones could be harmed.