New security measures foil cashbox theft

New security measures introduced following a series of cash-in-transit raids last year helped foil a so-called "tiger kidnapping" yesterday, gardaí have said.

The protocols were brought in last January when there were three attempted "tiger kidnappings" - criminal gangs targeted security companies carrying cash by kidnapping their employees and families.

An armed and masked gang of four men kidnapped a cash-in-transit driver, his wife and two children, aged two and four, from their home in Tullow, Co Carlow, at 10.30pm on Wednesday.

They ordered the man, who was on a day off, to drive to Dublin yesterday morning to pick up a cashbox from a cash-in-transit van which was making a delivery in Grafton Street.

His family was taken to a vacant house in Banogue, just outside Gorey town, Co Wexford, from where they managed to escape yesterday morning at 11am.

Gardaí say new security measures which were agreed with the security companies and their employees meant they knew about the attempted robbery before the family managed to raise the alarm.

A response management team at Garda headquarters in Dublin, was assembled. It monitored movements of the cash-in-transit driver who was being directed by the gang via mobile phone.

After he picked up the cash box, they intercepted him at the rendezvous location proposed by the gang in the greater Dublin area and recovered the cash. Neither the man nor his family were injured.

Garda spokesman Insp John Ferris said the new protocols covered the personal security of staff and their families, along with procedures which make it more difficult for cash-in-transit robberies to happen.

"We're particularly pleased about how it has been resolved. We have been working with the financial institutions and the security industry for a long time for the protocols that are in place which involve a daily risk assessment.

"The risk assessment would look at all aspects, including the security of the employees involved. That's why we would alternate delivery schedules and staff at the drop of a hat.

"This is an ongoing level of review that we felt had been significant in reducing these type of incidents."

Siptu security branch organiser Kevin McMahon said the number of cash-in-transit robberies had tailed off considerably since the protocols were introduced.

"Over the last year the Garda has been very active in watching and monitoring the activities of criminal gangs who have been carrying out these attacks.

"There has been a far greater awareness of security on the part of the cash-in-transit companies and their crews.

"The manner in which they carry out their operations are far less predictable. For criminals to be successful, they need some level of predictability."