Six arrests in Clare as gardai target organised crime operation

GARDAÍ have arrested six people in County Clare as part of an ongoing operation targeting suspected organised crime.
As part of the operation uniform and detective Gardaí from the Clare Division arrested six people in Ennis and the West Clare area Tuesday morning, June 1.
The six people, five men and one woman, are currently being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at Ennis, Shannon and Kilrush Garda Stations.
This organised crime group are believed to be involved in the theft of catalytic converters and the sale of the precious metals contained within.
The theft of catalytic converters has been an ongoing scourge in the county over the past year, as reported at the most recent Clare Joint Policing Committee meeting in April.
Outlining the crime figures for the first three months of 2021, at the JPC Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran noted that thefts from MPVs had more than doubled on the same period last year.
The figures, presented to members of the JPC bear out the big jump in reports of thefts at locations all over Clare in recent months.
While all other categories of property crime fell in the first quarter, year-on-year, there was a 115% increase in thefts from vehicles. “There were 34 thefts from MPVs between January and March of last year and 73 this year,” outlined the chief superintendent.
“Catalytic converters are very much the target. Significant arrests and in-roads have been made in this regard.”