Gardai have confirmed some of the 70 bikes stolen were carbon fibre models worth €3,500 each; keep an eye out everyone
A Limerick bike shop owner is facing crisis after thieves stole approximately 70 bikes valued at over €80,000 from his business.
Many of the stolen bikes were Giant brand machines, some valued at up to €3,500 each.
The incident occurred in Kilmallock Cycles on Monday night or into the early hours of Tuesday.
The overnight robbery was noticed on Tuesday morning when the owner - Southside Wheely Wheelers member Paul Gammell - went to open the business only to find most of his stock had been cleaned out by a gang that had obviously specifically targeted him and had come well prepared.
The robbery was immediately reported to the gardai, who have now appealed to the general public and especially the cycling community for any information that might lead them to the stolen haul.
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The Limerick Leader newspaper has reported that the cheapest of the bikes stolen was valued at €1,000, with those behind the robbery having apparently gained access to the locked shop via a tyre business next door.
“They forced the door there and went from there in through an internal ceiling between the bicycle shop and the tyre shop,” Sgt Damien Holian of Kilmallock garda station told the newspaper.
“Nearly all the adult bikes were taken. It would have taken a fair amount of time to load them all up.”
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The gang would have needed a truck or van to take away the stolen bikes. Gardai believe a vehicle was most likely reversed right up to the premises to facilitate the thieves loading the stolen property as quickly as they could.
The gardai have appealed locally for anyone who was in the Sarsfield St area of Kilmallock late on Monday or into the early hours of Tuesday and may have seen anything suspicious to come forward and help the investigation.
“It would be unusual to see activity at that time. We have gone through CCTV and there was a good bit of traffic passing so someone might have seen something,” said Sgt Holian.
“They must have had a large van to transport all the bikes. There was at least two individuals involved.”
As well as the Giant road racing bikes, Sgt Holian said some mountain bikes were also stolen.
“They are all adult, top-of-the-range bikes. There were one or two very expensive carbon bikes there which are about €3,500 each. They are made of carbon fibre.”
Anyone with any information can contact the gardai at Kilmallock on (063) 98018 or in Bruff at (061) 382940.
While that appeal is to the general public, some of these bikes are so expensive they will most likely be offered for sale to other bikes businesses or to racing or leisure cyclists. So if you are offered what you believe is a bike from the stolen haul please contact your local gardai where ever you are in the country.
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