Irish security chief forced to steal euro 1.2 million to free kidnapped family

Police say the director of an Irish security company has been forced to steal euro1.2 million ($1.7 million) from his own company and deliver it to an armed gang that kidnapped his wife and daughter. Tuesday's robbery is the latest in a string of ``tiger kidnappings' in Ireland, where gangs hold the families of security officials hostage and force them to rob their own employers.
Police say at least five armed, masked men stormed into the family's home about 1:30 am (0130GMT) and tied up the security official's wife and grown-up daughter. He was ordered to clean out safes at his west Dublin business and deliver cash to the gang at a rural rendezvous point. Police say after he did this, his family was released traumatised but unharmed. No arrests were made.