Police suspect desperate criminals who stole a Toyota jeep, trailer and power tools during a daring overnight robbery on farms in County Longford, used the vehicle 24 hours later to steal a four-wheel loader from a yard in County Monaghan.

A major investigation is underway to help find criminals who stole a jeep, trailer and power tools during a daring overnight robbery in County Longford.

Gardai have launched an investigation following the theft which took place in a farm yard in Clonterm, Longford, on Friday evening, November 1 or in the early hours of Saturday, November 2.

Among the items stolen were a silver Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep registered in Dublin, a yellow Chieftain two-axle trailer and a Honda Gator.

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The raiders also got away with a large amount of DeWalt power tools, including a consaw, while cattle and horse dosing equipment was also stolen.

The diesel tank at the farm was also emptied by the brazen thieves before they fled the scene.
Garda crime prevention officer for Roscommon Longford, Sergeant Damien Bartley said there was great concern in the local community following the incident.

He pointed out that local businesses had provided CCTV footage to investigating gardai in a bid to track down the criminals.
CCTV footage located close to the farm appears to show the stolen jeep and trailer passing by at approximately 2.45am on Saturday morning.

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Just 24 hours later, at 2.30am on Sunday 3rd November, Gardaí received a call that a shed had been broken into at Ford Johnson, Emyvale.

During the break-in, a Mustang running car was stolen and taken on a trailer which was towed by a Toyota Land Cruiser which gardaí suspect was stolen from Longford.

Sgt Bartley is urging anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area or who may be offered the stolen items for sale to come forward.

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“There is an extensive investigation with our Garda colleagues in Monaghan-Cavan to try to establish the facts and verify exactly what happened and who was involved and the vehicles used and that process is ongoing,” he added.

CCTV is understood to have also been obtained from the farm in County Monaghan and is being studied and assessed.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Longford Garda Station on 043 335 0570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Separately, gardaí arrested three men in Dublin on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into organized criminal activity and burglaries in Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo.

The operation involved the search of four properties in Dublin, where North West Region staff were assisted by members of the Armed Support Unit, DMR West and DMR South along with DMR Regional support and members from Athlone.

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It was part of an investigation into 29 burglaries in counties Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath and Sligo.

During the searches, assets believed to be the proceeds of organized crime were seized, which included a Rolex watch, designer handbags and shoes and substantial amounts of cash.

Other items recovered included mobile phones, several car keys and vehicle log books.

Three men, aged 26, 21 and a juvenile, were arrested and taken to Garda stations in the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division where they are being held under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.