Crime gang used old castlebar factory to strip vans

A GANG who stole vans to strip for parts used a disused factory at Breaffy Road in Castlebar as a hideaway where they cut up the vehicles before selling the parts, writes Tom Shiel.

The brazen enterprise only came to light in recent weeks but it transpired that gardaí had been watching the former Volex building for some time in the hope of catching the rogue dismantlers in the act.

Full forensic tests are currently being carried out on a number of vehicles discovered earlier this month at the vacant facility on the Breaffy Road.

One is a 1995 Ford Transit stolen in Ballina in December 2013. Another is a van belonging to Harvey Norman, Castlebar, stolen in September 2013. When recovered it was minus the wheels and engine.

The theft of commercial vehicles in the Mayo area, mostly vans, rocketed in late 2013 and early 2014. Six of the stolen vehicles have never been recovered. It’s now believed that the vacant Volex factory was used as a den where the vans were plundered of their most valuable parts.

A source told The Connaught Telegraph yesterday (Monday): “There was a variety of hand tools found on the floor, which were used for stripping vehicles.

“Those involved came and went as they pleased. Nobody had any idea of what was going on there.”

So far there have been no arrests in relation to the crooked enterprise.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at (094) 9022222.

Volex Limited, which manufactured moulded and mechanical cable assemblies for the computer and telecommunications market, was a showpiece industry in Castlebar, employing hundreds, for more than 20 years.

Last year Mayo County Council purchased the building at a cost of €610,000. The authority intends to develop the property as an enterprise centre for Mayo.