Gardai have cracked almost 50 cases of people being on the run from the courts in a single week – as part of a crackdown on crime in just one Irish county.
Officers have revealed that they executed 46 bench warrants in Co Westmeath between last Friday and today in an operation that saw them target burglary gangs in the county.
Bench warrants are issued when an accused person fails to turn up for a court case – and means they are on the run from the law.
READ MORE: Gardai warn homeowners to 'put the lights on and lock up' amid increase in afternoon burglaries
Sources told The Irish Mirror that in the latest operation it was likely some of the suspects tracked down had several outstanding warrants.
The week-long probe was part of Operation Thor – the Garda’s long-running investigation into burglary gags that operate all over Ireland
Gardai said officers in the operation carried out a number of covert and overt patrols – as well as mounting checkpoints to try to disrupt mobile burglary gangs.
A spokesman said a number of road traffic and crime related detections were made in the checkpoints.
He also said that the garda Dog Unit as well as the Armed Support Unit backed up local officers in the crackdown.
He added: “Six properties and an area of wasteland were searched in Athlone, Co. Westmeath by Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit, the Armed Support Unit and Garda Dog Unit.
“A number of detections were made under the Misuse of Drugs Act and three persons were arrested.
“Approximately €4,500 worth of various controlled drugs were seized including heroin, cannabis herb, cannabis resin and cocaine.
“A total of three people who were sought in relation to a number of theft and burglary offences were arrested and charged before the courts.
“In addition, Gardaí executed a total of 46 bench warrants in Athlone and Mullingar District Courts.”
The spokesman also said one male was arrested in relation to a public order incident in Mullingar in October last year.
He was released without charge pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardai say Operation Thor, which has been running since 2015, has significantly reduced the number of burglaries in the winter months – previously a time of the year gangs exploited to carry out raids in the hours of darkness.
READ NEXT:
Leo Varadkar and his mum object to Greenway route near park where he played as a child
Cork chef forced to sleep in borrowed car after becoming homeless
Moment 10ft alligator lunges at woman before dragging her into lake and killing her
Prepare for frost as weather expert delivers update on potential Beast from the East
Woman who thinks she is Madeleine McCann says 'I didn't plan this' in explosive rant
