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The Vodafone shop at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge was the first target, attacked at 2:27 a.m. on July 3.
Two members of a Romanian organised crime group have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a series of ram raid robberies targeting businesses in Kildare and Dublin over a 24-hour period.
A third individual linked to the group is scheduled to be sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next year.
The incidents occurred in July 2023, when the gang stole vehicles to ram the entrances of three businesses: two phone shops in Dublin city centre and Newbridge, as well as a car dealership in Clondalkin.
The men then fled the scenes with stolen goods and cash.
The Vodafone shop at the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge was the first target, attacked at 2:27 a.m. on July 3.
Using a stolen silver Mercedes, the gang smashed through the store’s front window, causing significant damage.
Although they failed to access the safe, they stole the till before fleeing.
Subsequent raids resulted in extensive damage and losses.
The 3 Ireland store on Henry Street in Dublin suffered over €50,000 in damage, along with €47,000 in lost revenue due to closure.
The Newbridge phone shop sustained €16,000 worth of damage.
Meanwhile, at the car dealership in Clondalkin, a BMW 5 Series was stolen, and damages exceeded €4,000.