Coffee van seeks new trading spot after random robbery

Barra and Brew began trading in April but was dealt a major blow this weekend when €500 worth of stock was stolen from the van

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A business owner is keen to relocate his newly opened coffee van after a recent robbery.

Shane Barry owns Barra and Brew, a mobile coffee truck which began trading just two months ago. The business operates from Millenium Park in Blanchardstown but is stored in Cookstown Industrial Estate at night.

Shane received a phone call on Sunday morning informing him that his coffee truck had been broken into overnight. Barra and Brew’s window was smashed and the van had been left in complete disarray.

He told Dublin Live: “They took all the food stock, my coffee grinder and the card machine. There’s very little left inside- it’s just a shell and the coffee machine.

The robbery was captured on CCTV footage at around 1am on Sunday morning. Photos seen by Dublin Live show a man loading Barra Brew’s stock into a wheelie bin before departing the scene

Shane is now looking for a new storage and trading spot. The entrepreneur admitted that the break-in has taken a toll on his fledgling business.

He said: “About €500-600 worth of goods were taken overall and I’ve lost out on the stock that I had ready. We’re looking for a more permanent and safer location where we can ideally store and trade from.”

Shane alleged that the robber attempted to break into a nearby unit before gaining access to Barra and Brew. He maintained that the burglar stayed in the van for at least an hour, before discarding Coke cans outside the truck.

Shane will likely not reopen the coffee van until a new location is found. The coffee truck also needs to undergo some repairs before it is fit for purpose.

The business owner is open to trading anywhere in the Dublin area. People with information on sites can contact Shane at barryshane93@gmail.com.

Gardai confirmed to Dublin Live they were investigating a break-in that took place on Sunday in Cookstown Industrial Estate.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are investigating an incident of theft that occurred in Cookstown Industrial Estate, Dublin 13 on Sunday, 18^th June 2023. No arrests have been made at this time and investigations are ongoing.”