Aggravated Burglary at a warehouse in Portarlington, Co. Laois on the 29/10/11

At approximately 2.25am the supervisor was locking up for the night, he drove towards the main gate in his jeep and got out to lock it, when a masked man armed with a large knife ran towards him and threatened him, two more masked men ran towards him and surrounded him.  They demanded to know how the CCTV was monitored and how the alarm system worked.  A fourth raider reversed the supervisor’s jeep back into the yard. A raider drove a dark coloured car, possibly a Volvo into the yard a short time after this.  The raiders brought the supervisor into the warehouse, demanding to know where the expensive items were, they specifically asked for cigarettes and alcohol.

The raiders sat the supervisor down and handcuffed him to a steel trolley. One of the raiders stayed with him while the others ransacked the warehouse.  One of the raiders used a walkie talkie to communicate to another raider and told him to bring a yellow Daf truck around.  The truck had false registration number plates 99D31421 fitted to it.  They used forklifts to move trolleys full of stock through to warehouse, the raiders loaded the truck with the goods.  It took almost forty minutes to load the truck.  One of the raiders wore camouflage clothing, he told the supervisor that one of the raiders had a gun and that he would shoot him.  When the truck was fully loaded the raiders made there getaway followed by the Volvo.

Appeal:

• The two trucks, a white Volvo truck registration number 03 D 22742 and the yellow Daf truck registration number 01 D 40881 were stolen from Cabinteeley, Co. Dublin on the 25th and 26th October 2011.

• Did anyone see these trucks between these dates and the 30th October 2011
 
• Did anyone store these trucks in a garage or warehouse unaware that they were stolen?

• Did you see these trucks refuel at a petrol station or garage?

• False Plates - Where were they made? Did anyone remember making them for someone?

• Convoy to Portarlington over the October Bank Holiday Weekend? Did you see it?

• The trucks were recovered at Boston Hill, Rathangan, Co. Kildare on Sunday the 30th October 2011. They were fitted with false registration number plates, 01 D 40313 and 99 D 31421.