Three men were being questioned in Derry yesterday after they were caught in a cross-Border security operation mounted by members of the RUC and gardai. The joint operation was set up to tackle the problem of Northern criminal gangs fleeing across the Border after carrying out crimes in Donegal.
"These gangs have been taunting the police on both sides of the Border for quite some time and operating a catch-us-if-you-can crime spree," a police source said. "They buy old bangers of cars solely with the intent of using them as getaway vehicles." Up to eight police squad cars were involved in the chase. Uniformed and plain-clothes officers acted following a break-in at the Roneragh House hotel in Fahan, Co Donegal, early yesterday. "A Vauxhall car was pursued along Border roads between Bridgend and Muff. It was then trapped and the driver was forced to flee towards the Border," an RUC spokesman said. "The car was finally forced to stop along the Culmore Road on the outskirts of Derry by officers who successfully used a stinger device to puncture all four of its tyres."
Police patrols in and around the city have been carrying the stinger devices for some time in their efforts to combat the problem of car thefts, but this was one of the first times the device was used in Derry. It consists of a string of hollow spikes which can be quickly thrown across roads to deflate tyres in a controlled manner and to force cars, which have otherwise refused to stop, to come safely to a halt.
The spokesman added: "Officers involved in the operation used the device after the car had evaded several other attempts by officers using police cars to try to stop it."
Three men in their 20s were arrested after they fled from the car. In the boot, police found a large quantity of alcohol, a television set, cigarettes and three charity boxes containing cash.