A Romanian man, who is charged in relation to a spate of ATM “grab” style thefts, where four of the alleged victims are in their 80s, has been refused bail at Dublin District Court.
Levers Zinca (30), otherwise known as Levers Trasca, of Synotts Court, Dublin 7 appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court where he unsuccessfully applied for bail. He is charged with seven counts of having breached Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001.
Zinca, who came to Ireland in 2016 and works part time at a waste disposal operative, is charged that on the 30th of January 2025 at a Bank of Ireland ATM on O’Connell Street Lower Dublin 1, he came up behind a woman before entering 700 into the machine after she had entered her PIN code, before allegedly making off with the resulting cash.
The second count on the indictment refers to an incident on the 29th of September 2025 when another woman was attempting to take money from an ATM on Capel Street, Dublin 1. The accused is alleged to have come up to the woman from behind and grabbed €220 as it was dispensed from the ATM before making off.
The third count relates to an alleged incident on the 10th of August 2025 where a man in his late 60s was attempting to withdraw cash from an ATM the Main Street, Finglas, Dublin 11.
It is alleged that the accused came up to the man from behind and proceeded to snatch €200 as it was dispensed from the ATM, before making off with the cash.
Count four relates to a nun aged 80 years who was attempting to take out money at an ATM at the Bank of Ireland on O’Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1 on the 22nd of July 2025 when Zinca allegedly came up behind her before engaging her in conversation before he used an A4 sheet of paper to block her view of the number pad before imputing €200 and making off with the cash that followed.
Another 80-year old-Irish woman was allegedly targeted when she was attempting to withdraw money from an ATM at Dundrum Town Centre on the 15th of July 2025. On this occasion the accused is alleged to have distracted her before making off with €200 in cash.
An 83-year-old woman was also allegedly targeted by Zinca when she was attempting to withdraw cash from an ATM on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. Here the accused is alleged to have snatched €200 from the ATM after distracting the woman before running off.
On the 3rd of May 2025 an 89-year-old man was attempting to withdraw cash when he was approached by Zinca who then allegedly distracted him before making off with €200 from an ATM at the Jervis Shopping Centre.
None of the cash has been recovered, the court heard, while the total amount stolen is €1,920. Bail was opposed by prosecuting Garda Oisín Burke.
Zinca, who during parts of the hearing, was remanded in custody to appear again on the 28th of January for DPP’s directions.