Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance with their investigations into a number of recent incidents across the county.
Crime Prevention Officer for Clare Sergeant Catriona Holohan outlined the details of the incidents.
Sixmilebridge Gardaí are investigating damage to a parked vehicle on Shannon Road in Sixmilebridge on Thursday evening, the 7th August, between 6pm and 6.30pm. The owner parked their vehicle, a black Honda Stream, outside their home and a witness observed one-person damage the drivers fly window of the car and flee the scene in a dark coloured car.
Gardaí in Sixmilebridge are appealing to anyone that may have observed a dark coloured vehicle on Shannon Road between 6pm and 6.30pm last Thursday evening. If you have any information, please contact Sixmilebridge Garda Station on 061 369133.
Gardaí in Ennis are investigating criminal damage to an agricultural gate in the area of Tiermaclane between Sunday evening, 10th August, at 9pm and Monday morning at 7.30am. The owner discovered both the gate and lock damaged on Monday morning.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone that may have witnessed this incident or may have observed a vehicle acting suspiciously in the Tiermaclane area on Sunday night, early Monday morning. If you have any information please contact us at Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.
Shannon Gardaí are investigating criminal damage to a vehicle parked in the Drom Cuilinn estate on Saturday night, the 9th August at 11.30pm. 50 minutes later, the injured party discovered the fly window on their vehicle was damage. The damaged vehicle is a white Toyota Wish. If anyone has any information in relation to this crime, please contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900.
Gardaí are also appealing for help regarding three incidents of criminal damage and theft from vehicles in Clare in recent days.
The first report received by Gardaí was to Crusheen. The owner parked their vehicle, a white Renault Traffic van at 9.30pm on Tuesday last, the 5th August up from Clarks shop on the roadside of the green area where the picnic bench is located. The van was parked facing the direction of the fuel pumps.
The owner returned to the van just before 11pm and discovered that a hole had been drilled into the rear back door of the van near the handle. A significant amount of tools was stolen from the van, which included the following;
Top con laser level, Husqvarna Con Saw, Makita Kango and skill saw, Dewalt battery skill saw, Dewalt multitool, Dewalt saw, Dewalt impact gun, Dewalt jigsaw and gun, Dewalt T Stack radio, Dewalt batteries, Stihl MS 180 chainsaw.
Gardaí believe that a grey coloured Volkswagen car parked to the rear of the van, boot to boot. Gardaí are appealing to anyone that may have observed this grey coloured Volkswagen car parked behind the white Renault Traffic van, if you did or if you drove through the forecourt and have a Dashcam in your vehicle, please contact your local Garda Station or Crusheen Garda Station on 065 6827122.
On the same night, the 5th August a second vehicle was damaged on the grounds of the Woodstock Hotel on Shanaway Road. The driver parked their vehicle, a white Ford Transit van on Tuesday evening at 6pm.
On Wednesday morning at 8am, they discovered that a hole had been drilled under the lock on the rear door of the van and a number of power tools had been stolen from the van. The stolen tools included: Dewalt impact gun, Dewalt consaw, Dewalt batteries, Stihl chainsaw, Stihl blower and Dewalt Drill.
Gardaí responded to a call at the Shannon Springs Hotel carpark on Wednesday, the 6th August. The injured party reported that they had parked their work vehicle, a grey Ford Transit van, at 6pm in the car park at the Shannon Springs Hotel on Tuesday the 5th August.
On Wednesday morning at 8am, the driver discovered the locks on the grey Ford Transit van had been damaged and broken into. A number of tools were stolen including Dewalt batteries, Dewalt angle grinder, Dewalt impact drill, Dewalt handsaw and a Dewalt 505 Drill.
If anyone observed any of these crimes or if you were parked in any of these car parks and your vehicle has a dashcam, please contact Ennis Garda Station or Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900. If you would like to remain anonymous, please contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Ennis Gardaí are investigating the theft of a car from Árd Na Gréine in Ennis between Friday evening at 5.30pm and Saturday afternoon at 1.30pm. This vehicle, a black/brown Peugeot 308 was parked outside the home overnight and Gardaí are appealing to anyone that may have observed this colour Peugeot 308 been driven on Friday night/ Saturday morning out of Árd Na Gréine, on the Clon Road or the Clare Road. If you have any information, please contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.
Crime Prevention Advice – Van Security
As we can see this is an issue for tradespeople and businesses now. Thieves can break in within seconds by drilling into the lock mechanism, and once inside, your tools and goods are at risk.
Locks
The first thing to go is to consider upgrading your locks. Factory locks can be vulnerable, so consider adding deadlocks or hook locks. These use a separate key and are much harder to drill or force open. You can also fit armoured lock protection plates to cover the vulnerable areas.
Layers of Defence
Therefore, the next thing we can look at are our layers of defence. How do we deter and delay the criminal.
Shield windows with mesh screens or replace them with solid panels.
Store tools in a locked cage or box inside the van, and mark them with a UV light or engraving so that they are harder to sell on.
Use alarms or trackers to alert you if the van is tampered with.
Parking
Always park in well-lit, busy areas ideally backed up to a wall so the rear doors cannot be opened. If you can, park under CCTV. When you close your doors, check that they are locked – slam locks that automatically secure the door when you shut it are a great option.
No security measures are 100%, but each extra step makes your van less attractive to criminals. The goal is to make them think that it is not worth the risk or it is too much trouble.