A WATCHMAN who helped two accomplices steal Pounds 30,000 worth of mobile phones and Elizabeth Arden cosmetics from the warehouse he was guarding has had his sentence adjourned to December 1st.
Det Sgt Gabriel O'Gara said about Pounds 10,000 worth of Elizabeth Arden cosmetics was sold door-to-door in the weeks before Christmas after the crime at Toga Freight Services on Kylemore Industrial Estate.
None of the property, including Pounds 20,000 worth of mobile phones, had been recovered, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Joseph Luke White, the security man at the warehouse, was found tied up when gardai responded to a reported aggravated burglary. Investigations led them to regard White as a suspect and when he was questioned he admitted his role in the crime, Det Sgt O'Gara said.
White revealed he had been approached by a man who had worked formerly in the warehouse and a relation of this man, who was a very dangerous individual. They asked White to take part in a robbery in which he would provide inside information. Det Sgt O'Gara said White admitted the two others to view the warehouse and they were unable to resist the opportunity of removing the telephones and cosmetics because of a ready market coming up to Christmas.
White (23), of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to stealing 180 mobile telephones and the cosmetics on October 29st, 1996. He had no previous convictions.
Det Sgt O'Gara said White was "honest" when interviewed about the crime. He was totally out of his depth.
Judge Cyril Kelly said he would adopt the probation officer's recommendation that White should participate in the Bridge Project and remanded him on continuing bail.