GARDAÍ AND the Data Protection Commissioner have begun separate investigations into the theft of 10 laptops at Revenue Commissioners offices where major investigations into tax evaders and gangland criminals are conducted.
The break-in occurred at 7.15pm on Thursday at Revenue’s offices at Ashtown, Navan Road, north Dublin.
Staff who investigate serious tax evasion and tax issues related to criminal activity, including organised crime, are based at the Ashtown offices.
A number of officials based at the offices work with the Criminal Assets Bureau in trying to use tax law to confiscate money from organised crime gangs.
Other officials at the Ashtown offices investigate people from whom cash with questionable origins is seized at ports or airports either entering or leaving the State.
Much of the cash seized in recent years is believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing that was being taken to Irish criminals in Spain or to buy more drugs on the Continent before it was seized by Customs officers at ports and airports.
It was unclear last night if Thursday’s break-in was carried out by somebody simply wishing to steal laptops for resale or if those behind it wanted to steal information compiled by Revenue in a bid to disrupt tax evasion and criminal investigations.
Those behind the break-in managed to force open a fire escape and robbed 10 computers from the offices before fleeing.
Revenue said in a statement that the stolen laptops were “chained and padlocked” to desks at the time. The statement suggested it was unlikely any of the data on the computers could be accessed because of security features.
“As a matter of policy, Revenue’s laptops are encrypted using a leading brand that complies with the highest international security certifications.”
The break-in has been reported to both the Garda and office of the Data Protection Commissioner and two separate investigations have begun.
Gardaí carried out an examination of the offices from where the laptops were stolen. CCTV footage from inside the office block and around the outside of the buildings is also being reviewed.
A spokesman for the Data Protection Commissioner said it would be investigating what data was stored on the laptops and if any of it had been accessed, despite the encryption measures.
However, one source familiar with encryption practices said the Revenue was known to use very advanced encryption methods that would be almost impossible to override.
The Irish Timesunderstands that Revenue and the Data Protection Commissioner are reviewing the security arrangements in the office block from which the computers were stolen.
