Police in Northern Ireland today ended forensic examinations in the two homes taken over by the gang behind last week's £22 million sterling bank heist.
The homes of 24-year-old Mr Chris Ward, in the Poleglass area of west Belfast, and Mr Kevin McMullan, in Loughinisland, Co Down, have been preserved as crime scenes since last Monday when details of the raid on the vaults of the Northern Bank in Belfast city centre first emerged.
Mr Ward and the McMullan family have had to spend Christmas away from their homes while the houses were dusted down for clues about the gang who held them hostage and carried out the audacious robbery.
It is hoped the owners will be able to return tomorrow once both properties are cleaned properly following the forensic searches.
A police spokeswoman confirmed: "The (crime) scenes at both houses have now been closed and police are arranging for the houses to be cleaned before they are returned to the owners.
"A number of scenes have been held since the report of the robbery and the kidnappings and full comprehensive forensic examinations and searches have been carried out, as is normal police procedure in a crime of this nature."
Meanwhile, police are still hunting for a handgun and ammunition which was stolen from a police Land Rover on Christmas Eve during searches of republican homes.
They were stolen from the vehicle in Cavendish Street, off the Falls Road area of west Belfast.
The police raids on republican homes followed a denial by the IRA that its members were involved. Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams has complained to the British government about the police investigators' actions.