Gardai issue advice after spate of thefts from cars in Clare

GARDAI have advised the Clare public to be more careful about security saying one third of cars broken into are unlocked at the time.

The advice comes in the wake of a spate of thefts from parked cars around the county.

On November 9, at 2.40am a resident in the Glassan estate on the Lahinch Road rang Ennis Garda Station to say that a male was acting suspiciously in the driveway of a house.

Gardaí went immediately to the scene and a male in his mid-30s who was seen leaving the estate on a bike was arrested and detained at Ennis Garda Station.

This male was found to be in possession of a black Samsung phone which had been stolen on the previous date from an unlocked car on the Kilrush Road in Ennis.

This male was subsequently charged and brought in custody before Ennis District Court where bail was refused.

In another incident that occurred between 5pm on Wednesday last and 9.30pm on Thursday a Latitude 5120 laptop, charger and brown purse were stolen from an unlocked car parked in the Elm Park estate, Ennis.

In Shannon, between 9pm on Sunday, November 7 and 1pm on Monday, November 8, an unlocked car parked in the Ballycasey Crescent estate was entered and various bank cards and cash was stolen from it.

In Bunratty, meanwhile, between 4.20pm and 5.40pm on Friday, November 12, the rear window of a car parked in the Meadows and Byrne car park was smashed and a gold overnight bag was stolen.

Gardai say some 33% of vehicles broken into are unlocked at the time and 22% occur at residential locations. Over half of these thefts occur between 12am and 7am.

Gardai say the want to remind car owners to:
• Secure all doors and windows and use your car alarm if there is one.
• Take valuable property with you and do not leave valuable property on view inside the car.
• Park in well-lit and secure areas.
• Store your keys safely away from windows and letterboxes.