Dublin family escape after botched tiger kidnapping

Gardaí are investigating a suspected attempted tiger robbery in Dublin this morning in which a family was kidnapped.

Two members of the family were free by gardaí after the van they were being transported in broke down on the M50 motorway.

A number of armed men forced their way into the family's house at Glasnevin Avenue around 1am and tied up a couple and their son. After several hours, the gang took the husband and son from the house and tied them up in the back of a Citroen Berlingo van.

However, the van broke down on the M50 motorway at about 7am. The gang members abandoned the van on the hard shoulder and escaped on foot.

A Garda patrol car discovered the van at about 7.15am and freed the two captives. The woman, who is a Post Office keyholder, was subsequently found unharmed at the family home.

Gardaí have sealed off the house for examination, and are currently carrying out a technical examination of the van.

They are also searching for two other vehicles that the gang are believed to have used - a wine-coloured Toyota Avensis with the registration number 05 D 43161, and a silver BMW, registration number M9TVU.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station at 01-6667500 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.

It is the second such incident involving an An Post employee in the past two days.

Gardaí are investigating an incident in which three masked men abducted a 62-year-old post officer worker from outside her Dublin home on Tuesday. However, she managed to escape after one of the gang fell asleep after apparently taking drugs.

A tiger kidnapping is one in which employees and sometimes their families, are held by armed gangs and forced to hand over cash from their place of work.

An Post said it was working closely with gardai investigating the recent attacks and was providing staff with ongoing training in business and personal security.

"This is certainly a very serious and worrying development and has been on An Post's national security agenda for some time," a spokeswoman said.

"This type of criminal attack presents a very difficult challenge to all financial institutions and cash-based businesses."

Staff affected by any crime can avail of medical and counselling support, under company policy, she added.