Warning as gang of thieves strike

August 1993

GARDAÍ in west Wicklow have warned householders to be on the look-out for a gang of thieves who have hoisted a fortune in valuable antiques over the last few months. The gang have been targeting empty country houses which are likely to contain antique furniture.

‘We are very concerned abut these burglaries at isolated country houses and would urge people to be extremely vigilant and careful in relation to callers to their home,’ said Superintendent Sean Feeley of Baltinglass Garda Station. He added that householders should immediately become suspicious of strangers calling to their homes with vans and particularly those who ring the bell and then ask for directions or apparently pointless questions when the door is answered.

‘If that happens then they can be relatively certain that their home is safe. But the home of a neighbour could be targeted if it is empty, so we would appeal to people in this situation to take the number of the van and immediately contact their local garda station,’ added Superintendent Feeley.

Recent hoists in west Wicklow, and particularly around the Blessington area, have involved antique tables, chairs, clocks and furniture valued at tens of thousands of pounds. Gardai believe the property is being stolen for export.