Wexford gardaí have uncovered a scam run by a foreign national in which over €50,000 in goods were unlawfully obtained from businesses throughout the south east.
On Tuesday afternoon, three Wexford detectives seized electronic equipment, furniture fittings, kitchen appliances and power tools in a raid on a house in Waterford city.
During the operation, gardaí loaded a 7½-tonne truck and transit van to capacity with the goods, which included plasma screens, mobile phones and Sony PlayStation PSPs.
The seizure came as a result of a week-long operation carried out by gardaí into the activities of an east European who submitted cheques, which later bounced, to businesses in Clonmel, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and Waterford.
Gardaí were alerted to his activities by businesses in Wexford town where he has been active for the past three weeks.
Yesterday afternoon, the goods were brought to a warehouse in the Drinagh area of Wexford town where they were catalogued and then returned to business owners.
Det Matt Kelly said gardaí have learned the individual, described as being in his late 20s, fled the country at the weekend. "We suspect he was aware that the net was closing on him. However, we are hopeful of bringing this matter to a successful conclusion."
Gardaí have now obtained CCTV footage of various transactions carried out by the man. It is understood that he opened a number of bank accounts with different banks prior to embarking on the three- to four-week spending spree.