Stolen tools recovered by gardaí in Cavan - are yours here?

Tool thieves' international ‘swap shop' uncovered

A garda team who focus on stolen tools have uncovered what they believe to be a ‘Swap Shop’ system operating between criminals here and the UK.

Inspector Niall McKiernan of Cavan Garda Station revealed details of the racket after his team carried out a major operation in the region in the last couple of weeks.

They seized more than 300 assorted tools, chainsaws and lawnmowers in a major haul from a van stopped near the Cavan Fermanagh border.

“We stopped a van and we seized the contents – 310 assorted tools, from a lawnmover to a hand drill to chainsaws,” Insp McKiernan said.

He said that the gardaí at Cavan have made a major breakthrough in such cases.

They identified tools found here as having been stolen in the UK in the last six months.

The inspector said they are currently investigating the origin of all the other tools.

The operation was designed to target consignments of tools in transit to markets and crossing the border in both directions.

Senior gardaí have confirmed that the emerging trend is that stolen tools destined for sale at locations in Ireland are sourced in the North, or in Britain.

They point to vehicles recently stopped at Dublin Port which were found to contain tools stolen in England.

The tool thieves are employing a lucrative cross channel trade to avoid detection from the authorities in either jurisdiction.

“The people we are dealing with are intelligent... Stuff that is stolen in Cavan will not be sold in say Fermanagh – they will take it further afield,” said Insp McKiernan.

Until now, if gardaí checked the serial numbers of second-hand tools on sale here, they would indicate they emanated from the UK but the authorities would not have access to reports of their theft.

Similarly, when British police check markets in their jurisdiction, they find that the tools came from the Republic.

Insp McKiernan said they will be engaging with their colleagues in the PSNI in Northern Ireland as further operations are planned.

The items seized will be placed on the new Garda Facebook page to assist Cavan gardaí in identifying ownership.