[MEDIA] Military gang steals millions in boat parts

[jd]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news ... 41934.html

A GANG of military-trained Eastern Europeans has stolen millions of euros worth of outboard engines and marine equipment here and in Northern Ireland over the past three years.

The highly-expert squad, believed to be from the eastern Baltic states, has carried out night-time raids on marinas, suppliers and harbours across Ireland and have yet to be arrested.

The gang has reconnaissance, engineering and logistic skills which gardai believe came from military training. They even carried out overnight robberies during last December's big freeze.
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They are also stealing to order, marine sources say. Last year they took a gearbox from a 175hp outboard in Wexford but left the engine, even though the complete outboard was worth €20,000.

Two weeks ago, they were caught on CCTV as they arrived in two people carriers in the middle of the night at Bullock Harbour in south Dublin, swam out to boats and took away all the petrol containers they could find.
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In Bullock Harbour last week, Western Marine chandlers were preparing to repair a rigid inflatable when they discovered it had an outboard engine, worth €10,000, previously stolen in Cavan.

In May, the gang used a rigid inflatable dinghy to steal five outboards from boats moored in Skerries. Five days earlier, three rigid inflatable boats and their engines were taken from a house in Greystones, Co Wicklow.
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Marine insurance sources say the losses in the Republic in the past three years have run to millions. The industry is having to hike its premiums and owners are hit as engines that have depreciated in value generally have to be replaced by new ones.

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[The Austrian]

I wouldn't be surprised if they claim dole and child benefit too There was a lot of burglaries and thefts of engines reported over the last three years all around Lough Derg. I have even witnessed a few suspicious acts when I was out fishing and have informed the local guards and provided photographic evidence. Result? You guessed right. Absolute Zero. It appears to me that we are on our own when it comes to protect our livelihood or property. Very sad indeed

[JOHN1]

it's crazy that they are getting away with this for so long, i knew chris and others had a good few tanks robbed i was talking to him the following day a huge loss/cost to him.
i wonder did anybody get questioned about the engine that turned up in western marine, and what was the outcome.

[stox 1]

Nobody can leave a boat on the numerous small lakes around Cavan any more. If you padlock your motor to the boat they are liable to cut the back out of the boat with battery powered sawsalls thus leaving the boat ruined aswell. Gardai seem to have little or no success aprehending those responsible or perhaps the results reflect the effort being put in. Obviously they have a ready market and no fear of being caught.

[syboit]

I was in west cork last week and petrol tanks had been taken from a few boats. One boat even just had the petrol taken out, and left the empty tank.

[willie bendit]

G.S too busy giving the locals a "schlaap" for takin a leak in public.....try taking on a van load of "spetnaz" lads
"somebody interfering with a boat,down the quays?,,,,there's no one here .....the're on their break !