Ruthless Tiger raid gang hold children

The masked and armed gang – described as “absolutely ruthless” smashed into the home, threatening a couple and their two children.

The target of the vicious raid was a cash-intransit manager in south Dublin.

“You know why we’re here, you know why we’re here,” shouted the gang members as they tore security cameras from inside the house.

Luckily, a member of the public saw the criminals break through the front door and alerted gardai.

“These were a vicious gang. Absolutely ruthless. The family were terrorised and the situation could have been a lot worse,” said a source.

The incident unfolded after the criminals broke into a home in Windmill Crescent in Crumlin yesterday evening and tied up a couple and their children.

At least one of the men was armed and he threatened the family with his firearm.

They immediately handcuffed the Chubb Ireland employee and his 12-year-old son.

Then, other members of the gang went upstairs where they threatened his wife and young daughter as they tore down security alarms.

Targeting

A passerby noticed something was wrong and raised the alarm, it is understood.

Officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Harcourt Square were quickly on the scene.

They have been targeting Tiger raiders in an operation codenamed Delivery.

Gang members heard sirens in the distance and bounded over a back wall to escape.

A short time later a jeep was found burnt out nearby, and a handgun was recovered from the vehicle, it is understood.

A Garda spokesman said they are investigating an incident of false imprisonment in Crumlin.

He said at 6.20pm yesterday a number of men entered a house while the occupants were at home. he said a jeep was found on Hughes Road South shortly after 7pm.

Fire

Dublin Fire Brigade was called to the scene at 7.07pm after residents in the area saw the vehicle on fire.

The scene was preserved for a technical examination.

The spokesman said what appeared to be a small firearm was recovered from the burntout jeep.

No descriptions of the gang have been released as yet and no arrests have been made.

Detectives were planning a number of searches today in an attempt to find the gang.

A source said: “This was a violent and planned raid. We believe that the target was the man of the house, who the gang were planning to kidnap and get cash from when the cash delivery runs began today [Monday].

“The family are extremely traumatised. They were threatened by the men, who were armed.”

Gardai appealed to witnesses who may have been in the vicinity of Hughes Road South to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1 800 666 111.

Concern

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has previously expressed concern at the number of Tiger raids and at the money getting into the hands of criminals.

Last November, banks agreed new measures to ensure employees follow protocol when Tiger kidnappings occur.

Earlier this month a north Dublin gang was suspected of carrying out the terrifying Tiger kidnapping of a Brink