Gardaí hunting pair of thieves after tools and equipment taken
TOOLS WORTH THOUSANDS TAKEN FROM PARKED CARS
WICKLOW Gardaí are on the lookout for a pair of brazen criminals who robbed thousands of euro worth of horticultural equipment and electrical tools from parked vehicles in Aughrim, Rathnew and Rathdrum on Thursday.
The largest amount of equipment was taken during a robbery which occurred in the car park of Van der Wel Nurseries, Tinakilly, on the outskirts of Aughrim at approximately 12.30 p.m.
‘My father’s Hilux jeep was parked up and a customer had his van parked up beside it. A silver Skoda drove in and parked between them and less than three minutes later they had stolen my father’s chainsaw and all the tools from the other man’s work van. It was his whole livelihood gone in a couple of minutes,’ explained proprietor Nicolette Van der Wel.
According to Ms Van der Wel, the chainsaw alone is worth a few thousand euro and the customer’s machinery included hedgetrimmers and a leaf blower, also valued in the thousands.
‘They were so brazen to just drive in and steal the equipment from right under our noses. They even waved to one of our employees who was in the car park on her break,’ Ms Van der Wel said.
The matter was reported to the Gardaí who examined CCTV footage and launched a search around the county for the vehicle which they believe may be connected to robberies in Rathdrum and Rathnew earlier that morning.
Tools were taken from a vehicle parked on Main Street in Rathdrum and from two vehicles at the Milltown Shopping Park, Rathnew.
Ms Van der Wel urged members of the public not to purchase items they suspect might be stolen and to report concerns to the gardaí.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed that the same vehicle was seen acting suspiciously at various locations last Thursday and appealed to the public for information.