Garda’s BMW stolen as professional European crime gang targets Irish car owners in fresh car-hacking crimewave
The brazen thieves stole an officer’s BMW five hundred twenty Series car from his home in Ratoath, Co Meath this morning
GARDAI are hunting a professional European crime gang behind a car-hacking crimewave sweeping across Ireland.
And the brazen thieves have taunted investigators after an officer’s BMW five hundred twenty Series vehicle was stolen from his home in Ratoath, Co Meath, in the early hours of the morning.
Investigators believe the bondage masks used gadgets that permit thugs to steal cars without violating into them are for sale on the internet for as little as €35.
One common method of car theft is ‘signal jamming’ — a device which blocks unsuspicious drivers from locking their motor with the remote fob.
But with no sign of ‘violent or forcible entry’, insurance firms won’t cough up.
It’s the 2nd time a guard has been targeted by a car theft gang in the last year.
A source said: “These criminals are very professional and have been operating all over Europe for the last year.
“They hadn’t been seen in Ireland for some time but it looks as if they’re back again. Their main targets are people with BMW cars.
“Once they steal the cars, the vehicles are then smuggled to the north before eventually ending up in Eastern Europe after they have been cloned.”
Another victim, targeted in Swords, north Co Dublin, told the Irish Sun: “The break-in happened in mid-December inbetween 7am and Ten.30am on a Saturday morning.
“It was still totally dark when I parked. Over €4,000 of (photography) stuff was taken from the boot and glove compartment.
“Gardai in Swords told me about the signal jammer, which can be bought online for €35. But the insurance stiff denies to pay out because there was no sign of ‘violent or forcible entry’.”
Retired Detective Sergeant Finbarr Garland, former head of the Garda Stolen Vehicle Unit told how car-hacking crimes are on the rise.
He said: “I’ve heard about these gadgets being used to override the signal.
Garland, now a customer safety officer with DoneDeal.ie, added: “Motorists can only do so much to protect their vehicles.
“The criminals are getting more and more hi-tech. Motorists and the industry need to be aware of that.”
We told in February how insurance companies are refusing to pay out to victims of a car-hacking crimewave that is now sweeping Ireland.
Garda s BMW stolen as professional European crime gang targets Irish car owners in fresh car-hacking crimewave
Garda’s BMW stolen as professional European crime gang targets Irish car owners in fresh car-hacking crimewave
The brazen thieves stole an officer’s BMW five hundred twenty Series car from his home in Ratoath, Co Meath this morning
GARDAI are hunting a professional European crime gang behind a car-hacking crimewave sweeping across Ireland.
And the brazen thieves have taunted investigators after an officer’s BMW five hundred twenty Series vehicle was stolen from his home in Ratoath, Co Meath, in the early hours of the morning.
Investigators believe the rubber hoods used gadgets that permit thugs to steal cars without violating into them are for sale on the internet for as little as €35.
One common method of car theft is ‘signal jamming’ — a device which blocks unaware drivers from locking their motor with the remote fob.
But with no sign of ‘violent or forcible entry’, insurance firms won’t cough up.
It’s the 2nd time a guard has been targeted by a car theft gang in the last year.
A source said: “These criminals are very professional and have been operating all over Europe for the last year.
“They hadn’t been seen in Ireland for some time but it looks as if they’re back again. Their main targets are people with BMW cars.
“Once they steal the cars, the vehicles are then smuggled to the north before eventually ending up in Eastern Europe after they have been cloned.”
Another victim, targeted in Swords, north Co Dublin, told the Irish Sun: “The break-in happened in mid-December inbetween 7am and Ten.30am on a Saturday morning.
“It was still totally dark when I parked. Over €4,000 of (photography) stuff was taken from the boot and glove compartment.
“Gardai in Swords told me about the signal jammer, which can be bought online for €35. But the insurance hard rejects to pay out because there was no sign of ‘violent or forcible entry’.”
Retired Detective Sergeant Finbarr Garland, former head of the Garda Stolen Vehicle Unit told how car-hacking crimes are on the rise.
He said: “I’ve heard about these gadgets being used to override the signal.
Garland, now a customer safety officer with DoneDeal.ie, added: “Motorists can only do so much to protect their vehicles.
“The criminals are getting more and more hi-tech. Motorists and the industry need to be aware of that.”
We told in February how insurance companies are refusing to pay out to victims of a car-hacking crimewave that is now sweeping Ireland.