Five arrested for organised burglaries of jewellery shops in Ireland

In the early hours of 15 April 2015, Europol provided support to Irish Police, An Garda Síochána, in their extensive investigation into Romanian organised criminal groups involved in the aggravated burglaries of jewellery shops throughout Ireland. The operation has resulted in the arrest and detention of five men, all aged in their mid-thirties, mainly of Romanian nationality.

A number of searches were conducted, during which computer equipment and phones were seized for potential evidence. Two Europol analysts provided on-the-spot operational support with a Europol mobile office. Europol also hosted operational meetings at their headquarters in The Hague to coordinate the action taken yesterday.

The investigation was carried out by the newly formed Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by detectives from Meath, Kildare and North Dublin, and the Garda Emergency Response Unit.