Teen stole ice cream van till in drive raid
A TEENAGER broke into an ice cream van when it was parked in the owner's driveway and made off with the till and its contents, a court heard.
Kevin Heffernan (19) smashed a window in the ice-cream van, got inside the vehicle and took the till, worth €100, and €50 in cash.
He also broke into a second vehicle, a taxi, parked in the same driveway in Clonsilla, and took a satellite navigation system worth €200.
Heffernan was caught by gardai after his fingerprints were found inside the ice-cream van.
The defendant, of Whitestown Park in Mulhuddart, admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to a string of criminal damage charges, as well as a number of theft and trespass offences.
Most of the incidents took place over a two-week period in February.
He also broke into a Volkswagen Passat, which was parked beside the van -- outside a house at Westhaven, Clonsilla -- and took a sat-nav. The property was not recovered.
He also admitted to handling a stolen AIB cheque, worth €3,763, at Ashtown, Dublin 15 on April 11.
The court heard that Heffernan has 22 previous convictions, and is currently serving a five-month sentence in St Patrick's Institution.
His father, John Heffernan, said he believes his son is a changed man since he went into custody. A judge imposed a two-year suspended sentence, and warned Heffernan not to come before him again in the next two years or he'll be going to jail.
hnews@herald.ie