‘Significant increase’ in thefts from cars recorded

THERE has been “a significant increase” in thefts from cars in two North Clare villages in the past year, according to the most recent crime statistics.

Last year’s figure for thefts from cars was up by 34 crimes on 2011. “That mainly relates to a significant increase in thefts which occurred up around the seaside areas in Fanore, Bishop’s Quarter and Ballyvaughan, where people who were going to the beaches had their cars broken into and it is something we are concerned with. We are certainly going to take it very seriously for the coming year,” Chief Superintendent John Kerin stated.

According to Chief Superintendent Kerin, public awareness is key to reducing this type of crime. He urged car owners to take precautions in order to prevent these thefts.

“We will talk to Clare County Council about erecting signs maybe to alert people in those areas not to leave items visible in cars. In every instance in which a car has been broken into in those tourist areas, stuff has been visible to people passing.

“In some cases, in very few cases in those instances, cars have been left unlocked with valuable equipment left exposed and visible and people shouldn’t do that. It behooves us to step up our patrols in these areas and we will increase our check points in those areas over the summer.”

Chief Superintendent Kerin also called on people living in these areas to make an extra effort in the area of crime prevention.

“We would ask locals in those areas to be vigilant and if they see cars or people acting suspiciously, to take particulars and to contact us. It is in their interest if they want tourists to come to these areas, that they help in detecting these crimes,” he concluded.