Tag Archives: theft

RISING demand for staycations could lead to an increased risk of the theft of caravans, with those planning on buying a caravan also being warned to be on alert. “Going on holiday at home and the use of caravans has become very popular and with the demand for caravans increasing so will the possibility in an increase in thefts caravans,” says Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. She urges those with a caravan to get an alarm fitted and to keep doors and windows locked at all times, even if out for a short period of time. “GPS tracking devices can be relatively inexpensive. Consider uniquely marking your caravan on various parts of it and take a photograph showing any marks, scratches or dents,” she adds. Wheels clamps are a visual deterrent, she advises saying, “ use a good standard clamp which will take time, effort and noise to remove. Ensure that you have a hitch lock in place.” …

A TULLA grandmother said she cried with relief when Gardaí told her of a major breakthrough in the long-running investigation into a spate of thefts at the local graveyard. Carol Hoey was one of a number of people contacted by Gardaí after most of the stolen items were discovered during a search, last week, in Ennis. Last September, the family was devastated when the grave of Carol’s late mother and that of her baby granddaughter were disturbed, and several items of sentimental value taken. The incidents were among more than 20 reported to Gardaí since January of last year. “I cried when I got the call from the Garda here in Tulla,” Carol told The Champion. “We can be sure now that our loved ones can rest. It feels great to have some kind of closure. At last, we can go to visit the graves without having a pain in our stomach and holding our breath in fear over what …

HOMEOWNERS are being warned to take precautions to ensure they are not victims of fuel theft during this cold spell. This comes after men were disturbed while trying to steal diesel from a tank at a farmyard in Liscannor earlier this month. At 11.55pm on Friday, January 22 a man disturbed two others in his farmyard at Ardacra, Liscannor. “When they left he found a hose and the nozzle of his diesel tank on the ground which would indicate that they were going to syphon the diesel from the tank. Weather is very cold at the moment and home owners are ordering their home heating oil,” said Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. She has issued advice to householders who wish to protect their fuel supply. “Place the tank as close to the house as regulations allow and in view of one or more windows. Try and ensure that the tank is not visible from the road to passing traffic,” …

GARDAÍ in Clare have re-emphasised advice to motorists to protect their catalytic converters following yet another spate of thefts of the equipment in various parts of the county. An investigation has been launched by Miltown Malbay gardaí when a converter was stolen from a car parked in the driveway of a house at Shanadrum between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Sunday, January 3. In Kilkishen on January 5 at 12.30am convertor taken from a car in Plunkett Drive. Tulla garda station have received a report of a converter taken from a car in the forecourt of a garage in Moymore between January 5 and 6. Between the same dates, converters were taken from two cars in different houses in Cooloorta, Boston. A car parked in the driveway of a house in Willow Park, Ennis had its converter stolen sometime between 9pm on Thursday, January 7 and 8am on Friday, January 8. There have also been reports of converters taken from cars …

HEARTLESS thieves, who have stuck again at Tulla Graveyard, over the festive period, have been condemned by a local councillor. Gardaí say that in the run-up to Christmas four graves were targeted and a number of decorative items taken. The incidents have quashed hopes locally that a spate of thefts over the course of last year had finally come to an end. “The latest news is hugely disappointing,” said Councillor Pat Hayes. “Gardaí have put huge time and effort in to tackle this situation and it seemed to have stopped. It’s a sinister activity and people are, naturally, hugely emotional when the grave of a loved one is disturbed. People go to the graveyard for quietness and solace and shouldn’t have to be worrying about what they’ll find when they go there.” Prior to the December incidents, it is understood that there have been more than 20 thefts at the remote graveyard over the course of the year. At least …

IT can take as little as three minutes for thieves to steal a catalytic converter gardaí in Clare have warned. Gardaí are urging motorists are to take steps to secure the devices following a spate of converter thefts recently. The equipment is coveted by thieves due to their high scrap metal value. Gardaí in Clare are investigating a number of catalytic converter thefts over the Christmas holidays, many of which occurred in the early hours. On Wednesday, December 23 at 1am a man was woken by noise outside his house in Aughanteeroe. He saw two males who left in a red car and he later found that the catalytic convertor had been stolen. On Thursday, December 31 at 1.35am a man was also awoken to noise outside his house on St Joseph’s Road, Ballyvaughan. He saw three or four males outside who they left in the direction of Lisdoonvarna and again the catalytic convertor had been removed from his car. …

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 …

HUGE hurt is being caused to families in Tulla because of an ongoing spate of thefts from the graves of their loved ones, according to Councillor Pat Hayes. Seven incidents have been reported to Gardaí in recent months, with the latest taking place between 10am on Thursday, September 16 and 5pm last Friday, September 18. It is understood, locally, that up to 20 thefts or disturbances may have taken place, many of which people have considered to minor to report. “This is a disturbing and sensitive issue,” said Councillor Hayes. “In some cases, the families affected have suffered very sad losses and the last thing you would want is for the graves of their loved ones to be disturbed.” The Fianna Fáil member, who is chairperson of the county council’s Rural Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) which has responsibility for burial grounds, said every possible means of preventing a reoccurrence was being examined. “Burial grounds should be kept safe and …