Latest news with #AudiA4
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Chilling moment thieves steal car with wireless device in seconds as new doc reveals how Brit motors end up in Lithuania
CHILLING footage shows the moment thieves stole a car in just seconds using a wireless device. Investigative reporter Matt Shea went undercover for Channel 4 Dispatches to shed light on organised criminal gangs specialising in car thefts. Advertisement 5 Investigative reporter Matt Shea exposed criminal gangs specialising in car thefts Credit: Channel 4 Dispatches 5 One of the thieves is pictured holding an amplifier outside the property during the staged theft Credit: Channel 4 Dispatches 5 The thieves explained in detail how the device worked Credit: Channel 4 Dispatches In the show, which will air in full tonight, Shea met whistleblowers and A sneak peek at the much-anticipated programme shows Footage shows the pair revealing to Shea exactly how they can steal a car in just 20 seconds. Thief 'T' and an accomplice demonstrated how they use an amplifier, which looks similar to a radio or walkie-talkie. Advertisement Read More in Motors It picks up the signal from the "key" inside a home and uses it to unlock a car parked outside. The device works by scrambling the signal from a remote key fob, and was used in nearly 60 percent of car thefts in the UK last year. After just a few seconds of holding the amplifier outside the window, the car door unlocked, allowing T to simply open the door and start up the engine. Once the engine had started, the accomplice could take the amplifier, jump in the car and they drove off, with the entire theft taking less than 20 seconds. Advertisement Most read in Motors Asked if they feel anything for the people they steal from they respond: 'These cars are insured, that's like, that a first world problem, you know, there's bigger s*** going on out there,. "Like your f***ng Range Rover's gone, boo-hoo, go and buy another one, man.' "The Teslas aren't easy, I don't think anyone's figured that out yet, because they are proper high tech' the thieves claim. Moment cops snare 'Rolex Ripper' gang after brazen watch thieves try to rob pair…only to find they're undercover police However, they brazenly boasted that others makes and models are easy to steal. Advertisement The men claimed they have taken up to 20 vehicles a month for as much as £5,000 per car, depending on its value. They told Shea that up to 90 per cent of cars are broken down for their parts. Last year approximately 355 vehicles were stolen every day in England and Wales. The shocking finds equate to a stolen car every four minutes, and more than 70 per cent the amount stolen a decade ago. Advertisement Freedom of Information requests to police forces in England and Wales also reveal that – for the 18 forces who responded - only 3.4 per cent of reports of a car being stolen between 2020 and 2024 led to someone being charged or summonsed. In the documentary, criminals revealed how highly organised gangs stole cars, dismantling them at so called 'chop shops' before shipping them out of the country to Eastern Europe. The programme reveals how a blue Audi A4, fitted with a hidden tracker, was stolen from a woman's driveway in north London on March 15. The car's GPS signal showed the Audi moving east towards the borough of Enfield and then switching off. Advertisement Five weeks later, the tracker suddenly reappeared in Kaunas, Lithuania, and was tracked to a business in the outskirts of the city called Baltic Car Trade. Dispatches filmed the police raid on the property, but instead of finding a blue Audi A4, all they found that was left of the vehicle was a bunch of wires. The car, like many stolen off British streets, was long gone having been torn apart. 5 One Audi A4 tracker was found in Lithuania with the car long gone Credit: Channel 4 Dispatches Advertisement 5 Stolen vehicle parts Credit: Channel 4 Dispatches
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Court rules three Limerick houses tied to son of organised crime figure are proceeds of crime
THE HIGH COURT has ruled that three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick organise crime figure Kieran Keane Sr are the proceeds of crime, as are three cars and over €100K frozen by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Having accepted garda evidence that Kieran Keane Jnr was a 'driving force' in organised crime, the High Court today appointed receivers to two of the three houses, the cars and €101,000 in an AIB account. The property and bank account were allegedly used by the respondents Kieran Keane Jnr, who is believed to be in Dubai or Spain, and his girlfriend, Laura Flanagan, with an address in Garryowen, Co Limerick. The court found that Keane Jnr had no recognisable source of income and that Flanagan had been saving her social welfare for a period. Keane Jr is the son of Limerick feud gangster Kieran Keane Sr, who was murdered in January 2003, and the nephew of convicted drug-dealer Christy Keane. Mr Justice Alexander Owens said that an application for receivership over a Garryowen home occupied by Flanagan and her family would have to be brought by CAB at the next sitting. The judge said any application for a stay would be considered at that time. Shelley Horan BL, for CAB, told the court that a forensic analysis of the bank account used by Keane Jr and Flanagan revealed trips to Lithuania for cosmetic surgery, travel to Spain, the UK, Dubai and also to Lapland within the period of 2010 to 2019. At the High Court today, Mr Justice Owens found that three Limerick properties that Keane enjoyed the benefit of but had no title on, were the proceeds of crime. Horan had told the judge that 'absolutely nothing is offered for the source of funds for the seven assets subject to this case'. Refurbishment costs Horan said a financial analyst at CAB estimated that one of the three Limerick properties had undergone approximately €289,000 in refurbishments which could not be accounted for. Mr Justice Owens ruled that three cars, an Audi A4 – since sold by CAB – a Skoda Octavia and a VW Amarok were also the proceeds of crime and had been used by Keane Jr. Mr Justice Owens said that, regarding the AIB account, it appeared that they were 'living on fresh air' due to a lack of bank records for everyday regular expenditure. Advertisement The judge said that if Keane was in Dubai for a number of years then he must have money to pay his bills there because otherwise the respondent would be in jail. The judge said he would take into consideration that it would be 'clearly disruptive' to remove Flanagan and her family from their home in Garryowen. Mr Justice Owens said that Keane Jr had lived outside of the jurisdiction for a number of years without any apparent present intention to return, but he 'envisaged' Keane Jr would do so in the future as his partner and children are living here. The judge said he was satisfied from a 'comprehensive' investigation by CAB that all three Garryowen properties were 'derived from the proceeds of crime' acquired in 'cash under the table deals'. The judge said of a separate, fourth property, not involved in the High Court proceedings and since sold by the couple that 'one cannot see where the money for that came from'. The judge said that an accounting analyst at CAB reported that property was bought as a 'shell' after being burned out and that €180K was spent on renovations. 'One can see from the photos it is anything but a shell. It was totally renovated and sold off,' said the judge. Mr Justice Owens said that it had been contended by Keane Jr that the money in the AIB account was from, among other things, the sale of motor cars from his garage but that the firm never made any tax returns. 'It is impossible to see any legitimate source for the working capital,' he said. Mr Justice Owens said that a lifestyle analysis carried out by CAB made it 'clear' that Keane Jr did not have the money to purchase the cars. The judge said he accepted CAB officers' belief evidence on affidavit that Keane Jr had allegedly associated with a number of known criminals and that he was an alleged 'driving force' in organised crime. 'It is likely that this criminal organisation is the source of funds used for all of these properties,' said the judge. Mr Justice Owens awarded costs solely against Keane Jr and noted that neither Keane Jr nor Flanagan were on free legal aid. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick gangster are proceeds of crime
Three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick gangster Kieran Keane Sr are the proceeds of crime, the High Court has ruled. Three cars and more than €100,000 frozen by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has also been deemed the proceeds of crime. Kieran Keane Jr, who is believed to be in either Dubai or Spain, and his girlfriend Laura Flanagan, with an address in Garryowen, Co Limerick, had receivers appointed to two of the houses, the cars, and €101,000 in an AIB account after the High Court found Mr Keane had no recognisable source of income. Mr Keane Jr is the son of Limerick feud gangster Kieran Keane Sr, who was murdered in January 2003, and the nephew of convicted drug dealer Christy Keane. Mr Justice Alexander Owens said that an application for receivership over the Garryowen home property occupied by Ms Flanagan and her family can be brought by CAB at the next sitting of the case when any application for a stay will be considered. Shelley Horan, counsel for CAB, told the court that a forensic analysis of the couple's finances showed that travel expenses from the bank account used by Mr Keane Jr and Ms Flanagan showed expenses that revealed trips to Lithuania for cosmetic surgery, travel to Spain, Dubai, and also to Lapland within the period of 2010 to 2019. At the High Court, Mr Justice Owens found that three Limerick properties, that Mr Keane enjoyed the benefit of but had no title on, were the proceeds of crime. Ms Horan had told the judge that "absolutely nothing is offered for the source of funds for the seven assets subject to this case". Ms Horan said a financial analyst at the CAB estimated that one of the three Limerick properties had undergone approximately €289,000 in refurbishments which could not be accounted for. Mr Justice Owens ruled that three cars, an Audi A4 — since sold by CAB — a Skoda Octavia, and a VW Amarok were also the proceeds of crime and had been in the possession of Mr Keane Jr. Mr Justice Owens said that, regarding the AIB account, it appeared that they were "living on fresh air" due to a lack of bank records for everyday regular expenditure. The judge said that if Mr Keane was in Dubai for a number of years then he must have money to pay his bills there because otherwise the respondent would be in jail. The judge said that Ms Flanagan and her children resided at the family home in Garryowen and that it would be "clearly disruptive" to remove them from their family environment, which he had to take into consideration. Mr Justice Owens said that Mr Keane Jr had lived outside of the jurisdiction for a number of years without any apparent present intention to return but said he "envisaged" Mr Keane Jr would do so in the future as his partner and children were living here. The judge said he was satisfied from a "comprehensive" investigation by CAB that all three Garryowen properties were "derived from the proceeds of crime" acquired in "cash under the table deals". The judge said of a separate, fourth property, not involved in the High Court proceedings and since sold by the couple that "one cannot see where the money for that came from". The judge said that an accounting analyst at CAB reported that property was bought as a "shell" after being burned out and that €180,000 was spent on renovations. "One can see from the photos it is anything but a shell. It was totally renovated and sold off," said the judge. Mr Justice Owens said that it had been contended by Mr Keane Jr that the money in the AIB account was from, among other things, the sale of motor cars from his garage but that the firm never made any tax returns. "It is impossible to see any legitimate source for the working capital," he said. Mr Justice Owens said that a lifestyle analysis carried out by CAB made it "clear" that Mr Keane Jr did not have the money to purchase the cars. The judge said he accepted CAB officers' belief evidence on affidavit that Mr Keane Jr had allegedly associated with a number of known criminals himself and that he was an alleged "driving force" in organised crime. "It is likely that this criminal organisation is the source of funds used for all of these properties," said the judge. Mr Justice Owens awarded costs solely against Mr Keane Jr and noted that neither Mr Keane Jr or Ms Flanagan were on free legal aid.
Car and Driver
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2025 Audi A5 Sedan First Drive Review: Simplified Evolution
The Audi A4 is no more, and in its place is a new sedan-esque five-door named simply A5. You can think of it as the spiritual successor to the A5 Sportback, because that's precisely what it is, just without the Sportback appellation, as there's no A4 sedan from which to differentiate it. We always preferred the looks and added liftback practicality of the A5 Sportback anyway, so no big loss. This combined effort makes sense given the rapid expansion in nameplates as Audi fills out the electric half of its portfolio. Audi's compact car hasn't gone e-tron yet, however. This latest A5 and its S5 performance partner are built on what may be the brand's final internal-combustion architecture, dubbed Premium Platform Combustion. In addition to being bigger than the outgoing A5 Sportback in every dimension, this new A5 has new looks wrapped around updated tech and a familiar yet slightly improved powertrain. View Exterior Photos Audi An A5 That Looks Kind of Like an A4 In profile, the A5 looks like the average between a sedan and a Sportback—call it an A4.5—as it's not obvious that its raked rear glass is attached to a hatch instead of terminating ahead of a traditional sedan trunk. Its surfaces appear a little more chiseled than those of the old A4 and A5, and flush door-release pockets add to the muscular sleekness. Audi's busy lighting department came up with available DRLs and OLED taillights that feature eight lighting signatures that an owner can choose from for an extra bit of personalization. There's one more light innovation inside, where an available Variable Light Control glass roof offers six dimmable liquid-crystal panels. While the opaque-to-clear treatment is not new, the A5 offers an interesting stripe mode that alternates the pattern between blocks of opaque glass and ones that are clear. We couldn't discern a great use case for this other than to get a noncontinuous tan, and we expect the function that mimics a traditional sunshade will get more action. View Interior Photos Audi Your eye is likely to be drawn to the A5's wall of screens, which Audi calls Digital Stage. It consists of an 11.9-inch gauge display (Audi still calls this Virtual Cockpit) that sits next to a 14.5-inch center touchscreen. An available 10.9-inch passenger display lets your co-pilot mess with audio and navigation and features an active filter that blocks the driver from seeing video content when the vehicle is in motion. We appreciate the subtle curve to the center display, which makes its farthest edge easier to reach. If that's not enough to look at, a color head-up display is optional. View Interior Photos Audi Available Bang & Olufsen headrest speakers can send audio more directly to your earholes; when the nav system cuts in with directions or you're on a phone call, the other speakers keep playing your selected audio while the driver gets a personalized and localized aural overlay. We found it preferable to the abrupt loss of all sound that usually accompanies such break-ins. And of course there's more space inside. A 2.6-inch wheelbase stretch favors the rear passengers, giving them much-needed extra legroom—enough that full-grown adults won't balk at sitting back there for a longer journey. Cargo capacity also increases, from a max of 35 cubic feet to 37 on this new model. When the rear seats are in use, there are 23 cubes available in the hatch. View Interior Photos Audi A Little More Dynamic, Still Comfortable In the transition to a single compact model, Audi has also streamlined the powertrain offerings, which are down from two previously to just one in the A5. Whereas the A4 sedan and A5 Sportback were sold with two versions of the VW Group's turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the new A5 comes with one that eclipses their output figures. With 268 horsepower—seven more than the former "45" powertrain and well above the 201-hp "40"—the revised engine is also up 22 pound-feet of torque on its predecessor, with a total of 295. It's backed by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard all-wheel drive. We didn't want for power in the new A5 and found its shifting smooth and unobtrusive, even at low speeds—not always a given with this flavor of transmission. Audi claims 60-mph arrives in 5.6 seconds; we clocked the lighter 252-hp A5 Sportback to 60 in 5.0 seconds, so the manufacturer's claim for the new, higher-output version is likely conservative. The only thing that made the A5 feel remotely slow was getting out of it and into the new S5, which we've reviewed previously. View Exterior Photos Audi The A5 is again equipped with a progressive steering system that tightens up the ratio as you wind on lock. Audi now mounts the rack directly to the unibody for more direct feedback, which we liked, but the system is still lacking in overall feel, something we found with the new S5, as well as these cars' Q5 and SQ5 crossover platform-mates. Aside from the numb steering, attacking corners in the A5 doesn't uncover any major faults. The passive dampers in the A5 keeps the body level enough and mostly free of big perturbations that we didn't miss the adaptive setup that's offered on the S5. The tune is definitely more on the comfort side, but you still feel the occasional road imperfection and have enough sense of what the car is doing to push it. In fact, this car feels just a little less nose-heavy than previous A4s and A5s, imparting more of a sporty flair than before. View Exterior Photos Audi With all of these improvements, Audi is making it slightly confusing to shop for a new 2025 A5. These non-Sportback models are being sold alongside A5s and S5s from the previous generation that are also labeled as 2025s. The truly new model is once again offered in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims. The entry price is $50,995 for the Premium, which is just slightly higher than the outgoing 2025 A5 Sportback's. The upshot is that you won't have to explain what Sportback means to your friends when they happily plop down in the back seat. Specifications Specifications 2025 Audi A5 Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback PRICE Base: Premium, $50,995; Premium Plus, $54,595; Prestige, $57,445 ENGINE turbocharged and intercooled, DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection Displacement: 121 in3, 1984 cm3 Power: 268 hp @ 6500 rpm Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 113.8 in Length: 190.1 in Width: 73.2 in Height: 57.0 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 55/43 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 37/23 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 4150 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 5.2 sec 100 mph: 13.3 sec 1/4-Mile: 13.9 sec Top Speed: 130 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 26/22/31 mpg Reviewed by David Gluckman Contributing Editor Ever since David was a wee Car and Driver intern, he has kept a spreadsheet listing all the vehicles he's driven and tested. David really likes spreadsheets. He can parallel-park a school bus and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. After taking a break from journalism to work on autonomous vehicles, he's back writing for this and other automotive publications. When David's not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest in gimmicky, limited-edition foodstuffs.
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Man (18) charged in connection with Limerick drive-by gun attack refused bail
A MAN, WHO gardaí allege is 'actively involved' in an ongoing 'violent feud' in Limerick City, was today refused bail on charges connected to a drive-by shooting last May. The gun attack occurred on 8 May when a masked gunman driving a stolen black Audi A4 fired multiple shots from a semi-automaton handgun at occupied homes at Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick. Gardaí alleged during a bail hearing today that John O'Donovan, (18), Valley View, Southill, Limerick, was involved in a feud between rival crime families and that he was involved with others in the shooting. The drive-by gun attack was video recorded on a mobile phone and shared on social media, gardaí told the court. Mr O'Donovan is accused of three counts of using or possessing cars, which were stolen from Dublin and used in the shooting. He is also charged with one count of arson in respect of the car that gardaí allege was used in the shooting. Detective Garda Darragh Conroy, Roxboro Road garda station, Limerick, told the court that Mr O'Donovan made 'no reply' when cautioned after he was charged with the four offences. Objecting to bail, Det Gda Conroy said Mr O'Donovan was arrested as part of the investigation into the shooting, which he said was linked to 'a violent feud involving the Collins family and the O'Donoghue organised crime group'. Detective Gda Conroy said a 'semi-automatic firearm' was discharged at a number of 'occupied' homes at Hyde Road, and that Gardai observed 'bullet holes' in the front windows and front doors of the residential properties. Although the houses were occupied, there were no reports of injuries to persons. Detective Garda Conroy alleged that a black Audi A4 and a white Lexus NX 300h were stolen in Dublin on April 25th last and driven to Junction 14 service station, at Monasterevin, Co Kildare. Garda Conroy alleged Mr O'Donovan and others attended the service station where 'an exchange' of the stolen vehicles occurred, and that Mr O'Donovan took possession of the Lexus SUV from a 'Dublin criminal'. Advertisement The stolen cars were driven 'in convoy' from the service station to Limerick, the Lexus, which gardaí allege was driven by Mr O'Donovan, was parked up at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick until it was used again on the night of the shooting to ferry Mr O'Donovan and others to Murroe Co Limerick where gardaí located the Audi A4 'burnt out'. Garda Conroy said gardaí observed 'bullet holes' in an 'upstairs bedroom window' of one of the houses targeted in the gun attack, and that 'shots were fired through the front door' of another property. 'All of the houses were occupied. Eight spent 9mm cartridges were found at the scene,' Det Gda Conroy said. Garda Conroy said the driver of the stolen black Audi – who was not identified in court – 'using a semi-automatic firearm, fired shots at properties from a moving vehicle', and that the occupants of the car 'recorded a video' of the gun attack. Detective Garda Conroy alleged that the Lexus travelled in convoy with the Audi to Murroe, Co Limerick where it was found burned. Garda Conroy further alleged that Mr O'Donovan was captured on CCTV footage at a filling station purchasing gloves and placing a container of petrol into the stolen Lexus before driving the vehicle away prior to he shooting. The garda alleged that Mr O'Donovan supplied the fuel used to torch the stolen Audi and that his mobile phone was turned off prior to the shooting and turned back on again minutes after the shooting. A text message was sent to Mr O'Donovan's mobile phone explaining that gardaí were on route to the scene of the shooting, Det Gda Conroy also alleged. A search of the online travel agency ' was conducted on Mr O'Donovan's phone immediately after the text message was received, Garda Conroy alleged. Garda Conroy told the court: 'It is my belief that he (Mr O'Donovan) will continue to be involved in the feud, commit further offences, and there would be a further risk to property and risk of loss of life if he was granted bail'. Garda Conroy said Mr O'Donovan, represented by solicitor Sarah Ryan, had 'maintained his right to silence' throughout interviews with Gardai following his arrest. Judge Patricia Harney said she was satisfied to refuse bail and remanded Mr O'Donovan in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday, 17 June. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
