Armed Robbery and Cash in transit

Cash-in-transit attacks

reached their peak in Northern Ireland in 2002 when there were 134 attacks in the calendar year. Following extensive partnership work, including the formation of the OCTF armed robbery subgroup, figures began to reduce. By 2007 levels had decreased to their lowest levels in almost ten years, with 22 attacks recorded during the calendar year – this low level of attacks has been maintained since, with 25 attacks in the 2008 calendar year, 22 in the 2009 calendar year and 25 in the 2010 calendar year.

Tiger Kidnaps

traditionally would have been targeted against staff working in financial institutions; however an increase in security measures has led to a displacement to other types of businesses such as retails outlets, public houses, and restaurants and private business owners. There were eight tiger kidnaps in Northern Ireland in 2010, half the number recorded in the pervious year. Anyone who the criminals believe has access to large amounts of cash disposable commodities or any other commodity of use to organised criminal gangs can become the target of a tiger kidnap. Advice on appropriate security measures can be provided by PSNI.

Extortion

in Northern Ireland was traditionally carried out by paramilitary groups who not only used this form of organised crime to make large sums of money, but also to maintain controls over the community. In recent years there has been a move away from paramilitary run protection rackets. It is suspected this is due to a reduction in paramilitary activities by most paramilitary organisations combined with a lack of potential targets due to the economic downturn and the resultant reduction in local construction projects.  

ATM thefts

first became an issue in Northern Ireland in 2009 when there were 21 recorded. Two thirds of the incidents involved the use of stolen plant machinery, six of which were successful. In 2010 there were a further three ATM theft incidents.

 


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