Trail of ink led to arrest of man who stole €40,000, court hears

A Dublin man who stole a cash box containing €40,000 was arrested after gardaí followed a trail of ink and smoke from the box’s security devices back to his home, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

A Dublin man who stole a cash box containing €40,000 was arrested after gardaí followed a trial of ink and smoke from the box’s security devices back to his home, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Jason Clarke (aged 29) of O’Devaney Gardens, pleaded guilty to stealing the box from a Securicor worker as he delivered it to a ATM in the Park Shopping Centre, off Prussia Street, on January 11, 2008.

Judge Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing until February to allow for the preparation of a probation report.

Defence counsel, Mr Ray Colgan BL, said to laughter from the court, that Clarke was "literally caught red handed" by gardaí after they saw the smoke coming from his balcony.

Garda Conor McDonagh told prosecuting counsel, Mr Fergal Foley BL, that Clarke was on his way to the supermarket when he saw the van delivering the money. He approached one of the guards "in a threatening manner" causing him to drop the box.

Clarke picked it up and ran off, activating the security devices, which emitted smoke and ink. He brought it to his nearby flat in O’Devaney Gardens where he put it out on the balcony to disperse the smoke.

Gardaí followed the trail and saw the smoke from the street. They found Clarke in bed covered in dye and arrested him.

Mr Colgan said he made full admissions and told gardaí "he couldn’t believe the money had fallen at his feet and he just took advantage of it."

He said Clarke suffered from serious medical conditions and had been a heroin and cocaine addict but was now on methadone. He said he had 21 previous convictions but this was his first time in the Circuit Court.

Judge Hunt called it a "unusual case" and commented the incident was like something from "Keystone Cops".