Unarmed private security firms who fill ATM machines are an easy target for armed gangs, writes Conor Lally.
The increased number of ATM machines at non-secure sites around the State has afforded armed gangs almost unlimited opportunities to steal very significant amounts of money quickly and easily. With 38 armed robberies having been carried out so far this year, most targeting ATM machines when they are being loaded with money, it is clear there is no shortage of opportunistic armed robbers looking to make easy money.
When ATMs were first introduced in Ireland in the 1970s they were traditionally located at bank branches. This meant they could be loaded with money from within the secure confines of a branch.
However, in recent years, as consumers have demanded more convenience, the machines have been installed in shops, petrol stations, hotels and a whole host of other locations.
Moving the machines out of the bank branch has meant money must be transported to where they are situated. This has led to a situation where large amounts of money are being transported by unarmed private security firms around the country on a daily basis, making them an easy target for armed gangs.
The series of robberies which have taken place in Dublin since the end of last year, in which more than €2 million has been taken, demonstrate how lucrative and easy the heists are.
In all cases, the culprits struck just as security vans loaded the ATM machines. The gang members have clearly conducted surveillance at various sites and have been waiting for the arrival of the security vans.
The gangs generally steal vehicles a number of weeks or months before a raid. One car is used by the gang to get to and from the scene of the robbery. A second car is parked within a few miles. The thieves switch to this vehicle as a precaution in the event that a witness to the robbery may have been able to give gardaí a description of the first getaway vehicle.
All of the robberies now under investigation as part of Operation Delivery have involved the use of firearms, which are now more readily available than ever. The weapons are used to threaten the security van staff. However, they are rarely discharged because security staff are trained to hand over money if armed assailants threaten them.
The raiders have also been masked during the recent attacks, meaning gardaí have no description of them. If they are not apprehended at the scene or in the immediate aftermath of a robbery, it is virtually impossible for gardaí to prove who was involved.