Crime crackdown
By Laura Glenn
Inishowen gardaí have announced a massive crime crackdown.
It is hoped the initiative will drastically cut crime by making the public aware of crime prevention tactics.
Gardaí will also liase closely with the public and the media to increase co-operation between all parties with a view to cutting crime.
Buncrana district superintendent, Jimmy Coen, will focus on the criminal activities directly affecting the peninsula.
He will then give guidelines on the best way to prevent them.
In the first of a number of proposed press conferences, he focused on the distressing issue of theft.
He revealed that since January 1, 2008 there have been 34 incidences of burglary from homes in the Buncrana district.
Again, he stressed that a number of suspects had been arrested and charged in relation to the incidents.
However, he explained a lot of these crimes were “opportunistic” and “very distressing” and outlined a number of measures Inishowen residents can adopt to ensure they don’t become victims.
In their investigation of burglaries, gardai found that the majority of injured parties do not live locally and are away from the area for a period of time.
However, Superintendent Coen said if the trend continues “it will have a very detrimental effect on the area’s very positive tourism sector”.
He encouraged residents to ensure their premises are secure and if you have a holiday home, “serious consideration” should be given to an alarm system.
According to the superintendent, there has been “a spate” of arsony of trailers in the first three months of the year.
He said: “There are groups operating on both sides of the border who are on the lookout for unsecured trailers.”
He called on those who own a trailer to prevent it from becoming an easy target.
He suggested storing it in a shed at the back of your home or positioning it between two vehicles.
A large number of tools have also been stolen from building sites recently.
Superintendent Coen urged contractors to “be aware” to not leave valuables unsecure and vunerable.
He said people “could become victims when they least expect it”.
He said: “If you’re in a crowded area, take personal care of your wallet, keys, mobile phones, Ipods and MP3 players.These are very popular.
“Lock any valuable property in the car but never leave it visible or easy accessible to thieves.
“If possible, use cash machines during the day, put away your cash and cards immediately.
“Never write down your pin number where it can be accessed and never store it on your mobile phone.”
Thefts from parked cars have also become a major problem.
Superintendent Coen said most of these crimes are “opportunistic”.
He said: “It takes just 30 seconds to break a window, reach in, open the lock and steal valuables.
“Give serious consideration to where you park, park in a well-lit and open place. Never leave mobiles, cheque books or cash cards in the car.
There has been “a worrying number” of these thefts in the Buncrana district in March alone.
Thefts of satnav systems are especially common at the minute. A number of these occurred because the cars were unlocked.
Superintendent Coen said although the thefts were “minor” they were still very disturbing for those affected.
He suggested securing the ID number of valuable equipment as this can help gardaí in their investigation if it is stolen.
Graveyards and places of worship have also been targeted in recent months.
However, these have been reduced due to detection and strategy. However, there will “always be a risk”.
Superintendent Coen outlined a number of other measures the public can adopt to ensure the safety of themselves and those they care about.
He said: “Always be a good neighbour, keep an eye out for the elderly, vunerable and those on their own.
“I would encourage everyone to report any suspicious activity to gardai.
“For more information on how to keep safe, the public can access www.garda.ie and they will find details of local crime prevention officers and other useful links.”
