The attempted robbery of cash from a security van in Dublin is understood to have been foiled after two people kidnapped as part of the plan escaped and alerted gardaí.
Armed, masked men entered the home the pair share in Broadmeadows area of Swords, north Dublin, and tied them up at around 8pm yesterday.
A third member of the household returned home at around 2am and was also tied up. The three were then taken to a derelict house in nearby Oldtown and held captive.
At around 5.15am one of the three - an employee of a security firm - was ordered by his abductors to report for work this morning and carry out instructions while the other two were held.
"At 8.15am approximately the remaining two persons managed to free themselves and made their way to a house in the area where they raised the alarm," the Garda Press Office said.
A spokeswoman refused to comment on reports that gardaí intercepted a security van driven by the abducted employee in the Swords area a short time later.
She said those kidnapped were unhurt but declined to say whether there had been any arrests. It is understood there was no cash taken.