Hunt continues for farm theft ‘insiders’

THE gardai are still hunting for further ‘insiders’ within the farm sector following their massive operation last July when four men were arrested following a dramatic chase near the Laois village of Ballacolla.

Garda Superintendent John Scanlan told the Farming Independent that there was “no way” that all the intelligence being used by the gang came from one source.

Farmers were also advised that further arrests are likely.

“You should expect further arrests since our intelligence suggests that up to 10 people were involved,” said Supt Scanlan. The Midlands-based garda boss noted that there has been a “dramatic”fall in crime in an area spanning six counties since the mens’ arrest.

“We believe that this gang was operating across six counties from Tipperary, Kilkenny and Laois right up through Offaly, Carlow and Kildare,” he said.

An AI technician from the midlands was arrested and charged as part of the investigation into a raft of farm thefts in the region.

The man is believed to have had access codes and locations of keys for a string of farms that were subsequently subjected to nighttime raids.

The arrests of the men, as part of Operation Thor, had driven any remaining insiders to ground, according to the Gardai.

“Crimes with insider information have virtually ceased,” confirmed Supt Scanlan.

“[Prior to this] we had a very significant spate of farm burglaries where there was a high degree of knowledge with regard to both the location and types of equipment available,” said the garda chief.

“We commited signicant resources under Operation Thor to target those commiting the crimes,” he added, referring to the team of over 20 gardai that were involved in a five day stake-out of the stolen jeep that the men attempted to make their get-away in.

Supt Scanlan said that he believed that the force hopes to still recover some of the trailers and quads that were stolen from farms in the Midlands in recent months.