Crime gang used Mayo Airbnb as a base for burglary spree
The criminal gang used a Mayo property as a base for a crime spree in the region.
A notorious burglary gang used an Airbnb in Mayo as a base for a crime spree in the western region.
Up to 20 homes were broken into in less than five days as the gang went on a rampage across counties Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon.
It has been reported that the Dublin-based gang rented the property near Knock earlier this month to carry out the crimes.
The reported that the host of the property was an innocent party who had no idea it was criminals who were using the house.
Investigations revealed that up to eight gang members stayed at the property for less than a week and they used it as a base to carry out a series of burglaries of unoccupied homes.
The gang is suspected of carrying out around 20 break-ins at night time in houses that were not occupied.
Cash and jewellery were the primary targets in these crimes, and while there is not a stand-out figure in terms of what was stolen, the gang got away with goods with a combined value worth thousands of euro.
Last month it was revealed that the number of burglaries in Mayo has increased by 17% in the past 12 months. According to the quarterly PhoneWatch Burglary Report, a total of 153 burglaries have occurred in the county in the past 12 months. Gardaí are investigating a spate of burglaries that occurred in October. Properties in Ballinrobe, Partry, Crossmolina, Foxford, Swinford, Claremorris, Aughamore, Irishtown, Ballyhaunis, Ballindine and Kilkelly were targetted.
