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A LITHUANIAN CRIME gang active in Dublin is suspected of the thefts and distribution of stolen high-end bicycles across Europe, TheJournal.ie has learned.
The criminal faction, whose bosses hail from the Plungé and Kaunas areas of Lithuania, has been stealing bicycles for a number of years and ferrying them across Europe to the Baltic state in a trade suspected to be worth millions of euro annually.
The gang is also linked to a €250k bicycle seizure made by gardaí in Dublin at the end of last year.
In that instance, officers raided a container in the Newcastle area of west Dublin. There they discovered 119 bikes, many valued at over €1,500. Officers are in the process of returning these bikes to their owners.
Gardaí attached to the Pearse Street station’s street crime unit are continuing to liaise with their European counterparts in Europol, the Netherlands, Germany and Lithuania in relation to the criminal enterprise.
In one instance late last year, a man had his €3,000 VanMoof Electrified S bike stolen from the Camden Street area of Dublin city. Due to the bike’s value, a high-end tracker had been installed on it.
After realising the bicycle had been stolen, the owner alerted the company via their service app. They set a signal in motion and the bike could then be tracked via its GPS, which ‘pings’ the signal at random intervals.
The bicycle made two trips to an isolated farmhouse near Dunshaughlin. “The bike eventually went direct to Rosslare overnight and was on a ferry to France that night,” he said.
It then crossed the continent to Kiel, Germany, and was tracked on an overnight ferry to Lithuania.
That particular route is used by this Lithuanian gang, as well as other serious criminal outfits to move illicit products across the continent.
While high-end bicycles make up much of the Eastern European outfit’s stock, cosmetics and electronics are also moved through these passages. The goods are transported in containers being driven by licenced hauliers, so the contents can be more difficult to detect.
Most of the consignments are moved from Kiel port near Hamburg, Germany to Klaipėda in Lithuania. From there, it is a 40-minute drive to the Plungé area where the bikes are then distributed for sale.
Bicycle theft and stolen goods importation have become such an issue for Lithuania that a new scheme whereby bikes are registered similar to cars has been brought in.
According to Eltis (The European Local Transport Information Service) those who wish to use the bicycle registration system register as a user on the website.
Once logged on, the user will be able to register their own bikes as well as those of their family members and relatives. Once the bike is registered, the owner is sent a special sticker with a code, which should be placed on the bicycle’s frame.
In the case of theft, the bike will then be highlighted in the system and identified as stolen. The importation of the bikes into Lithuania from Ireland and the UK means there is no chance that these bicycles have been registered on this site.
The introduction of this system resulted in a reduction of bike thefts in the region, according to Eltis.
In Ireland, Fianna Fáil has said it plans to create a National Register for bicycles if in Government. Under this scheme, bike owners could register their bicycle with An Garda Síochána and fit it with a unique barcode.
Gardaí investigating the €250k discovery of bikes in Dublin said they are attempting to reunite owners with their goods.
A spokesperson last month said: “Gardaí in Pearse Street conducted a search on Thursday morning, 26 December 2019 of a container at allotments in Newcastle, Dublin and located 116 pedal cycles suspected to be stolen property.
“A search warrant was obtained by Gardaí from Pearse Street following ongoing investigations into the theft of bikes in the city centre.
“All items in the container were seized pending further technical examination. It is estimated that the value of the items is approximately €250,000 owing to the uniqueness and specialisation of the items.
“Gardaí from the Street Crime Unit in Pearse Street will endeavour to identify the rightful owners of the pedal cycles in due course and the items that are not returned to owners will be circulated via media in the coming weeks.”
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If they know who these people are, is it not possible to lock them up? Surely notwithstanding the EU rules, we should be allowed to send these guys packing to their country of origin when they are obviously here for purely criminal purposes?
@Sven Gilmore: if they are EU citizens they have every right to live in the 26 county state criminal or non criminal that’s what you all voted for back then there is no thing as National borders
With in the EU
@Bobby wilson: mostly Russian
@The Equalizer: well then deport from the EU
@Bobby wilson: and plenty of our criminals are living in Spain and other aces across Europe (and beyond). Its not like we are all saints. Better communication between countries is vital but sending people packing would be like a tit for tat exchange. Better in this incidence to hold those accountable under the law and make the crime as unprofitable and laborious as possible
@Jensen Bhroin: agreed, but that’s because our police have forced them to live abroad. Many would rather be here living like before.
@Bobby wilson: They can be expelled from the country for committing crimes
@Jensen Bhroin: point is EU citizens can’t be deported back to each other countries with in EU we are all EU citizens no borders anymore
@Darren Byrne: if they are EU citizens they have every right to live and work with in EU borders
@Bobby wilson: wrong. I live in Denmark. An EU country, you agree? Denmark can expell me if I commit crime such as this!
@Dave Thomas: yes but 26 county Irish state won’t do that deport EU citizens from the EU
@Sven Gilmore: You OK with all the Irish gangsta lads killing off each other in Drogheda, Dublin and elsewhere? You OK all other recent murders carried out by the Irish. Give over and try to understand how the EU works. And give over on your misguided bitterness.
@Bobby wilson: You’re wrong there I’ve witnessed many a deportation back to EU countries.
@Bobby wilson: that is simply not true. In 2018 alone “A total of 68 EU nationals were also returned to their home countries, because they represented a “serious threat to society”.
https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/Deportation-cases-resolved-broadly-in-favour-of-state/
@Dave Byrne: sorry these are people from outside the EU ie..Pakistan /Nigerian etc trying to gain access into EU through 26 county Irish state that have been sent back
@Bobby wilson: You are wrong. EU deportations do happen. Just because you hate the EU doesn’t mean ya can make up bull and not get called out.
@Bryan Yelahw: I am IRISH NATIONALIST not EU UNIONIST sorry if that offences you
@Bobby wilson: Of course you can deport an EU citizen. Freedom of movement doesnt prevent this.
@Bobby wilson: your spelling ‘offences’ me
@Bobby wilson: sorry you’re wrong https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/permission_to_land_in_ireland.html
@The Equalizer: Russian speaking, not necessarily Russian nationals.
@Bobby wilson: That does not matter either way you are wrong either way
That’s what you get when you have open borders and let every scûmbag into our country
@Scorpionvenomm: we don’t have open borders. We have a reciprocal arrangement within the EU that we also benefit substantially from, outside of that our immigration policy is on the Conservative side. The return of EU free movement is the free movement of our own people within the EU as well as the facitation of trade.
@Scorpionvenomm: been to the south of Spain or Dubai recently? I’d say the locals there feel the same way
@Scorpionvenomm: just as well we dont do that, then isn’t it?
@Jensen Bhroin: so how are we benefiting from going to Lithuania. Are their swarms of Irish criminal gangs over there?
@Scorpionvenomm: You OK with all the Irish gangsta lads killing off each other in Drogheda, Dublin and elsewhere? You OK all other recent murders carried out by the Irish. Give over and try to understand how the EU works. And give over on your misguided bitterness.
@Scorpionvenomm: stop listening to Nigel farage and Tommy Robinson, you won’t sound like a ding dong on here
@Paul Furey: we have enough of our own problems without inviting more in. I’ve no issue with people coming here to work none at all I think it’s good for ireland. But people with criminal records shouldn’t be allowed in and these little scrotes I’m sure have a criminal record in their own country.
These Lithuanian lads always seem to be up to something, stealing bikes or stabbing or what have ye. When’s the last time you read a headline, ‘ Lithuanian gang rescues drowning child from the Liffey’.
@Pat Corrigan: how many children were drowning in liffey last year?
@Evaldas Cekanauskas: when’s the last time you reckon he read ‘Irish gang rescues child from the Liffey’
Gangs are deplorable. Irish or Lithuanian. But far more honest and hardworking Lithuanians in Ireland than there are criminals.
But like they say, the good and honest rarely make the news
@Evaldas Cekanauskas: I think Patrick meant acts of kindness or compassion towards others
@Evaldas Cekanauskas: Who knows?
@Pat Corrigan: at they are just stealing bikes. Aren’t the Irish the drug Lords of South Spain etc.
They know that if they are prosecuted, our judges think our prisons are too harsh for foreigners
@Marg FitzGerald: they are not foreigners they are EU citizens first like all the people living 26 county state and like all the people living in the Lithuanian are EU citizens first and formost no borders with in EU anymore
@Marg FitzGerald: I’ll admit that I’m no criminal mastermind, but in the 21st century can they not come up with a better deterrent than “a special sticker with a code”. A 10 year old could find that in 2 minutes and remove it. You be better off paying the 10 year old’s big brother to whack anyone messing with your bike over the head with a 2 x 4.
@Bobby wilson: If you are from Lithuania living in Ireland then you are a foreigner in Ireland. An EU citizen but Foreign to any Country other than the one you were born in.
@Arch Angel: 4X4 more impact
Deport deport deport. If you are in Ireland from another country without a job you get deported. So many European criminal gangs operate out of Ireland. DEPORT
@Chris: they are EU citizens who live in the EU no borders anymore just the EU.
@Chris: You OK with all the Irish gangsta lads killing off each other in Drogheda, Dublin and elsewhere? You OK all other recent murders carried out by the Irish. Give over and try to understand how the EU works. And give over on your misguided bitterness.
@Paul Furey: both are wrong, it’s really not that hard to understand. It’s not like you have to choose one or the other.
@Bobby wilson: DEPORT, do you like criminals in the country that are non national?
If the original owners can’t be traced they should be recycled.
@Seymour business: These are 1500 euro bikes – lightweight and made of carbon fibre – nothing worth recycling in them.
They are sold at Garda auctions if the owner cannot be traced – they are advertised and anyone can buy them but they go for extremely high prices.
@Anthony Clark: Whoosh ….
Don’t you mean Russian gang posing as Lithuanians
@The Equalizer:
No, because they also been identified as such in the UK where they, like Ireland, have also identified the spread of Lithuanian drug gangs and the consequences of their turf wars.
@The Equalizer: it says the bosses are from Lithuania. Are you saying they are ethnic Russian Lithuanian nationals or something?
@SC: , Lithuania has a larger migrant network than Latvia and Estonia, and a higher level of poverty than its neighbour Poland. Around 22 per cent – 600,000 people in Lithuania – are on the poverty line. A larger amount of Russian criminals and sex trafficking passes through there into the Eu
@The Equalizer: Ugh. They should bring back communism.
@The Equalizer: As opposed to Ireland which has 760,000 people under the poverty line!
First and foremost, I can’t stand thieves, people work hard and buy things for themselves, then to have them stolen by career criminals who would rather steal and bring misery to others just because they cant be bothered to get a job and earn a proper living, low life filthy excuses for human beings. :Side note, when did bikes get so bloody expensive?? I know nothing about them, but some of the prices I have seen for bikes can match the prices of small secondhand car. Are they made from carbon fibre or some other exotic material???
@devils avacado: most of the ones in that range would be carbon fibre and are extremely light and fast, or others are é bikes. Many people use the bike to work scheme to save almost half the price through the tax break including safety equipment bought at the same time.
I haven’t used it yet as my own bike still suits me now, its an entry level road bike I got in Halfords that cost €300. Its a grand steed for my needs but I can see the different in the higher end bikes when they pass me! I wouldn’t go paying 1,500 euro for a road bike unless I was doing races etc but would definitely double what I paid for my current bike (which would work out nearly the same on the scheme).
I wonder at the suggestion of a special bar code. Bikes already have an identification number on them that could be recorded instead rather than create a new system. I do think bike registration is an excellent idea though.
@Jensen Bhroin:
A little off topic here in regards to the article, but, if you’re considering the bike to work scheme, do it early in the tax year.
If you leave it until say October, you’ll have to have the whole amount paid back by end of the tax year in which you buy it. Better to spread it out over the full 12 months if possible so buy it early in the year.
@devils avacado: a serious long distance leisure cyclist could easily pay 2500 for a bike and yes carbon fibre is the material of choice at this price range. Some also have electronic gear shifting which can add considerably to the price. Compared to gym membership or golf club equipment and membership, it’s not bad over 5 or 6 years
Coming over here taking your men, your jobs and now your bikes.
Shocking that even with a tracker on the bike they couldn’t recover it.
I wonder did yer man get his bike with built in gps back?
Bike to work scheme that can save you nearly have the price,, I had no idea that existed. Fantastic idea,, do many people know/take up on that?
@devils avacado: yes it’s very popular. The employer pays for a bike and equipment up to a max of €1000, the employee pays it back to their employer in increments but the repayment is deducted from salary before tax, so if you’re on the higher rate, it’s quite a saving. You can avail of the scheme once every 5 years.
They’d have a field day if they went to Beijing.
@Ananya Sharma: not if they are caught ,but here they will be grand
@FlopFlipU: i think you missed @Ananya Sharma’s joke there are Nine Million Bicycles in Beijing sung by Katie Melua
Take the dole and hap allowance off them and give them a one way ticket home
Lock them up with u-lock
May Gulbuth the thorny cocked one hollow them out and use them as prophelactics on the pavements of hell in his mighty congress with the fang wombed hags of eternal agony.
@Tarfton Clax: Ooooooooooooooookay! Go to bed, all will be grand in the morning!
mostly Russians with Lithuanian passports.
Jail time and then Deport as per EU law.
They tracked the bike, but never seized it.
Why not all cycle dirt cheap bikes like they do in Amsterdam. Most are not worth stealing.
@Tony Mc Grath: because Dublin is windy and hilly and people live further away from the city. A good bike makes a huge difference. It’s not like the difference between a good car and a banger; you physically get tired and uncomfortable after a few km on a bad bike.
€2155 per bike based on them figures. That so Irish it’s laughable.
@Muid O Donoghue: ya think? https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/in-stock-road-bikes/
The consequences for bike teaft is pityful. If the next government are serious about making the country more bike friendly they need to introduce substantial minimum sentences.
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