Spate of thefts from cars in Clare drives garda warning

GARDAÍ are driving home a message to car owners urging greater vigilance when it comes to securing their vehicles. This follows a recent spate of thefts from vehicles across the county. Cars have been targeted by thieves in various locations including Ennis, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ennistymon.
According to Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks, “A number of cars have been broken into over the past week and all the cars were unlocked.” Between 10pm last Monday night week and 10am on Tuesday morning loose change was taken from a car parked on Shanaway Road, Ennis. In a separate incident, between 3am and 4.20am last Wednesday there was a report of a male interfering with cars on Carmody Street. Face masks were stolen from one unlocked car. A male was apprehended, arrested and charged and brought before Ennis District Court on Wednesday morning. In the Moyard Estate, Ennis on the night of October 22 a sum of money was stolen from an unlocked car in the driveway of a house.
During the early hours of Friday, October 23 between 12 midnight and 8am catalytic convertors were stolen from three cars, one in the Ashview Drive estate in Sixmilebridge, one in the Kilnasoolagh Park estate in Newmarket-on-Fergus and the third in the Anna Dun estate in Ennistymon.
Sergeant Brooks has issued advice to car owners saying, “We are asking car owners to park next to walls or other vehicles to make access under vehicles harder and ensure that there is good security lighting where you park.
“Almost €2 million worth of items have been stolen from vehicles in the 1st half of 2020. 37% of all thefts are at residential locations and 12am to 7am is when over half of these thefts occurred.
“Wherever you park take your property with you. Ensure your vehicle is locked and alarmed and parked in a secure well lit location and always store your keys away from letterboxes and windows.”