Garda helicopter called in to help apprehend men suspected of Ballynacargy burglary

Three men suspected of being involved in the burglary of a residence in the Ballynacargy area on Wednesday evening, 26 February, are due to appear in court later today.

The incident happened at around 5pm and a quantity of jewellery was reported stolen.

A vehicle which was seen leaving the scene was later observed by gardaí were on patrol nearby.

A managed containment operation, involving a number of garda units, was then put in place. A number of men left the vehicle and were pursued by gardaí.

Three males, all aged in their 20s, were subsequently arrested by gardaí.

In a statement posted to social media, An Garda Síochána provided more detail about the incident, which involved gardaí from Trim station.

“Our Roads Policing Unit on duty in Westmeath yesterday received a call on radio about 5pm that a home had been broken into in the area, a large amount of jewellery stolen and the gang had just fled by car.

“Luckily, we had a description and model of the car and in knowing how these burglary gangs operate, we got ahead of them along the route that we knew they would take to get to the motorway to abscond from us.

“We knew we were on the right course when members of the public began making emergency calls to report dangerous driving through a number of townlands and villages in the county.

“One passer-by who had seen the car recounted to our colleague in Command and Control that they [passengers] all had balaclavas on. We sat and waited for the car to eventually pass us so we could get in pursuit.

“And as sure as be told, along it came.

“Having failed to stop when prompted, we pursued the car on the N4 and R148 through Kinnegad until we reached Enfield, where the lads abandoned the car after a 35-minute pursuit and took off on foot.

“We called in backup from our Air Support Unit, Garda Dog Unit, and colleagues from the Mullingar Detective Unit and Trim Garda Station.

“Around 9.30pm, our excellent garda dog, Cooper, put one of the detectives on the scent and together they discovered one of the three suspects.

“The other two suspects were apprehended by two Trim gardaí after the Air Support Unit guided them through thermal detection.

“All three had tried to evade us by jumping into the Blackwater River.

“They were arrested, returned to a garda station in Westmeath, where they were given dry clothes and examined by a doctor to ensure they were all well.

“They remain detained for questioning.

“We are working today to return the stolen jewellery and are investigating the link between this organised burglary group and a number of break-ins.”