GARDAI have issued a nationwide alert for all units to be on the lookout for a black coloured BMW M5 high-powered car, which is being used by a burglary gang to evade patrol cars.

Officers privately admit that they do not have the patrol cars capable of staying with the criminals if they are spotted in either the BMW or a silver Audi R54, also being used by the gang.Every garda division has been given a description of four men, who are involved in a crime spree around the country and then use a network of roads to make their escape and head back to their base in Dublin.

Gardai say the gang does not seem to be interested in major hauls from burglaries but appear to be carrying out the raids for an adrenaline rush.Officers, who came close to capturing some of the gang, have been attacked with rocks and crowbars in two separate incidents.The five-litre petrol BMW M5 model, which is described as a "super powerful" car, was stolen in Ticknock in south county Dublin on April 5 last.

It has since been used in burglaries in counties Mayo and Galway as well as several counties in Munster and the south east.

Attack

Gardai came under attack when they intercepted the gang as they robbed a store in Newport, Co Tipperary, and again in Durrow, Co Laois.During another burglary in Ballywilliam, Co Wexford, they ripped out the hard drive from a CCTV camera to reduce the chances of being identified.

One senior officer told the Irish Independent: "These guys target top of the range cars that are capable of being driven fast over long journeys."They are becoming increasingly brazen and daring, both in carrying out the burglaries and in stealing the cars they want."In some cases, they have confronted the owners of the vehicles and taken them under threat," he added.Regular garda patrols are now being boosted by members of the regional support units, who have access to some higher powered vehicles and a wider range of equipment, including weapons, to tackle the burglars.

The garda air support unit is also being used in the hunt for the travelling gang.The burglars are taking advantage of the improved network of roads and are able to target one region, rob several premises, and then turn up in another region two hours later.