Detectives dig deep to locate bulldozer thief in Limerick

GARDAÍ are investigating the bizarre theft of a bulldozer from a quarry which left a trail of destruction in its wake.

The vehicle, which costs hundreds of thousands of euros, was stolen in broad daylight in the Castleconnell area in the early evening of Monday, April 1. It is not known how an individual walked onto a site and drove off in the huge vehicle.

A garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are investigating a criminal damage incident and unauthorised taking which occurred in Castleconnell on April 1, 2024.” They said damage was caused to a nearby level crossing.

“No arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing,” said the garda spokesperson.

One local told the Limerick Leader they were surprised there hasn’t been more about it.

“They drove the machine down a back road and straight through the gates of the railway line, literally, didn’t open them at all.

They levelled the two gates and pillars at the level crossing.

“I think they got spooked because the cameras on the level crossing picked it up and the guards were alerted. They abandoned the bulldozer in a field and escaped,” said the local, who added that when he first heard about it he thought it was an April Fool’s joke.

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Irish Rail have not responded to a media query regarding the damage to a level crossing.

There are also reports of gates and ditches being knocked when the bulldozer was driven “off road” and through fields.

“They left a trail of destruction,” said the local.

One line of enquiry is that the valuable bulldozer was stolen to order and the plan was to hide in a field before it could be transported out of Limerick.