Tallaght delivery drivers unite as nightly armed robberies continue

FOOD delivery drivers in Tallaght are being targeted and robbed of their money nightly in a violent organised operation which has seen workers threatened with weapons – including a gun.

More than 120 delivery drivers from across a number of local takeaways have joined forces and signed a mass petition calling for their safety while working, after Domino’s Pizza alone reported 16 robberies in the Tallaght area in the last four weeks.

According to drivers, they are being robbed nightly, usually after 10 o’clock, and have been threatened with hammers, spanners, lead pipes and a gun while delivering food across a number of areas in Tallaght, with incidents recently on the rise in Killinarden. 

Drivers believe the robberies are being carried out by the same perpetrators, who are following them into estates by car.

Driver Jobin George told The Echo: “We believe it is the same group.

“Most of our deliveries are genuine, but these guys are watching and waiting for us, and when we walk away from the door with the money they approach us and threaten us.

“There have been times where we have been robbed in front of the customer.

“We have been threatened with hammers, bars, spanners and, most recently, a driver was threatened with a gun.”

He added: “We feel we are being followed around estates by these people, especially the drivers that work for Domino’s as they are recognisable in their uniforms.

“This situation is very frightening and even dangerous to our lives.

“We are also afraid to continue work, but we need to earn a living.”

Drivers have also reported having stones thrown at them in estates and damage done to their cars.

Last week, 32 drivers met with Fine Gael councillor Brian Lawlor in County Hall and handed him the petition calling for action and support from An Garda Síochána, local councillors and members of the community.

In their joint letter, drivers – who have provided gardai with descriptions of some of the culprits – stressed that they believe someone will be badly injured if gardai do not take action.

Cllr Lawlor told The Echo that he has taken the drivers’ concerns on board and that he will meet with Tallaght Superintendent Peter Duff to discuss the issue, and pass on the delivery drivers’ petition.

When contacted by The Echo, a senior Garda source said: “We are aware of delivery drivers being robbed in estates, and we have carried out an operation in the past that has led to arrests.

“We have an operation currently ongoing to combat these robberies on delivery drivers, who are very vulnerable.
“We have also offered them crime prevention advice.”

When asked about a gun being used to threaten delivery drivers, the source said: “We have had one or two reports of a gun being used. We have no evidence that it was a gun, but we have had reports and are investigating.

“We believe that a small cohort of people are responsible for these robberies, which are happening across a number of estates.”

Anybody who has information or who witnesses a robbery on a delivery driver is encouraged to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 6666000.