Eight suspects identified as gardaí expected to make arrests regarding Knock Airbnb crime spree

EIGHT suspects have been identified in relation to a crime spree involving a gang which used a Knock Airbnb as a base.

Arrests are expected to be made soon after gardaí compiled an intelligence dossier regarding eight criminals suspected to be involved in robbing up to 20 houses in Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, and Galway.

According to the Irish Independent, a gang from the Tallaght area of Dublin are thought to be behind burglaries of numerous unoccupied homes over five days in early November.

The gang used three cars during their crime spree and wore camouflage clothing and walked through fields before breaking into houses, mostly in rural areas.

The number of burglaries in the area has plummeted since the gang left the area after gardaí identified the property which they had been renting.

Superintendent Alan Brady previously said gardaí had been having difficulty gathering sufficient evidence to bring the perpetrators to court. No arrests have been made regarding these burglaries.

Speaking at the December meeting of the Mayo Joint Policing Committee, Chief Superintendent for Mayo and Roscommon/Longford, Ray McMahon, urged Airbnb owners to be cautious when renting out their property. Chief Supt McMahon called on property owners to contact gardaí if they had any suspicions regarding the people renting out their property.

Mayo had a total of 160 reported burglaries up to the start of this month, an increase of 33 on the same period last year.