Five people have been arrested on suspicion of impersonating gardai as part of a major multi-county theft and fraud scam.
Gardai have been investigating the criminal gang’s activities across 15 counties, mostly in the east and midlands, over the past 10 months.
The fraud involves members of the gang calling to rural homes, impersonating a member of gardai. They claim they are investigating burglaries in the area where sums of cash had been stolen and that they are attempting to identify the owners of the cash, or counterfeit cash.
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They then request to compare cash in their possession against cash held by the homeowner - and then proceed to take any cash from the homeowner.
This morning, four men (aged in their 30s, 50s and 60s) and a woman aged in her 50s were arrested in connection with the investigation.
Meanwhile, a number of searches are ongoing in three counties across the Dublin and Eastern Regions.
Giving more details, a Garda spokesperson said: “This morning, Tuesday 25th April 2023 gardai from the Garda Eastern Region investigating the activities of a criminal gang involved in theft and fraud by impersonating members of An Garda Síochána have arrested five persons, (2 males in their 30s, a male in his 50s, a male in his 60s and a female in their 50s).
“The five persons have been arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 at 5 separate Garda stations across the Eastern Region.
“A number of searches are ongoing in three counties across the Dublin and Eastern Regions.
“The investigation is led by a Senior Investigating Officer, based out of an incident room at Kilkenny Regional Headquarters and has been investigating the gang's activities across 15 counties, primarily in the east and the midlands, over the past 10 months.
“Today’s searches and arrests are being conducted by detectives from the Eastern Region, supported by uniform colleagues and Regional Armed Support Units.
“The theft/ fraud involved members of the gang calling to rural homes, impersonating a member of An Garda Síochána, claiming they were investigating burglaries in the area where sums of cash had been stolen and that they were attempting to identify the owners of the cash, or counterfeit cash. The requested to compare cash in their possession against cash held by the home owner and then proceed to take any cash from the home owner.”
The public is being reminded that gardai will not cold call to a house and request to check cash in this manner.
The spokesperson continued: “An Garda Siochana wish to remind the public that any Garda member calling to your door will have identification.
“However, should you have any concerns about the person at the door, you should not answer the door even if they are purporting to be a Garda.
“Genuine gardai will always provide official details to allow you to confirm their identity with your local Garda Station and will be patient while you choose to so.”
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