Gardaí are investigating the unauthorised taking of a number of cars from areas across the county over the past week.
Investigating Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance, asking anyone with information to come forward.
Crime Prevention Officer for Clare Sergeant Catriona Holohan outlined the details of the latest thefts.
“Over the last seven days, a number of burglaries have taken place and vehicles have been stolen in County Clare. An Garda Síochána is appealing to the public for their assistance in each investigation.
Ogonelloe
On Thursday the 11th December, two vehicles were parked outside The Pipers public house in Ogonelloe after 10.30pm. The owners discovered their vehicles were stolen just after midnight, that night.
The first vehicle, a black Volkswagen Golf was stolen and later recovered by Gardaí from the M7 motorway on the Dublin bound lane between junction 23 and junction 24. The vehicle had been stolen in the early hours of the 12th December and recovered by Gardaí on Sunday, the 14th December.
The second vehicle was a black Toyota Hilux Crew Cab. This vehicle was found on the 13th December in St. Johns Square in Limerick.
At approximately 4am on the 11th December, a black Nissan Qashqai was stolen from the Ashgrove Meadows estate in Killaloe.
Between midnight and 11am on 11th December, a black Toyota Yaris was stolen from the Ivy Grove estate in Ballina, County Tipperary.
Bunratty
Shannon Gardaí are also appealing to the public for their assistance.
On Friday morning, the 12th December, at approximately 1.30am a home was entered in the Bunratty West estate in Bunratty. During the course of this burglary, the culprits stole two sets of car keys and they then stole the vehicles from outside the home.
The vehicles stolen included a black Volkswagen Golf estate and a blue Ford Focus estate. The blue Ford Focus estate was found in Cratloe Woods on the same morning, the 12th December at 8.45am.
The black Volkswagen Golf estate remains stolen.
Ennis
Ennis Gardaí are investigating a burglary that took place in the Sli ar Fheaghas estate on Quay Road in Clarecastle on Saturday morning, the 13th December, at approximately 3.30am.
Gardaí believe that the culprits gained access to the home and stole the car keys to a grey Ford Kuga.
The grey Ford Kuga has not been recovered.
Quin
Gardaí in Ennis are also investigating the theft of a white Mitsubishi Trojan crew cab from the Quin Gardens estate in Quin in the early hours of Saturday morning, the 13th December between 3am and 3.30am.
Gardai are investigating the theft of a silver Ford Fiesta stolen from The Park estate in Quin. The owner last saw the vehicle on Friday, the 12th December and they discovered it stolen the following day, Saturday the 13th.
Sixmilebridge
Garda in Sixmilebridge are appealing for witnesses with regard to a burglary that occurred in the Ashview Drive estate of Sixmilebridge on between 11pm Saturday night and 2am on Sunday morning, the 14th December. During the course of this burglary a Dell laptop and a PlayStation were stolen.
Killaloe/Ballina
On Sunday morning the 14th December, a vehicle was stolen from the Ard Coillte estate in Ballina, County Tipperary. The owner left the home at 3am and when they returned a short time later, a black Skoda Superb had been stolen from the driveway outside the home.
Between Saturday, 13th December at 7pm and Sunday morning, a grey Mercedes Benz was stolen from the Boru Court estate in Ballina. This vehicle was recovered Sunday afternoon at Rosmor in Limerick, just off the M7.
Sgt Holohan said: “During the Garda investigations into each of these incidents, it became apparent that the culprits tried to gain access to a number of vehicles in each estate where they stole a vehicle.
In some instances, they were observed on C.C.T.V. gaining access to vehicles and searching through them. The impact of each burglary is significant and the aftermath for each victim can be distressing. With this in mind, I would like to talk about how we, individually and as a community, how we can protect ourselves from these crimes.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact their local Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.