Clontarf Christmas Crime Prevention Update

We reached out to local Gardaí to get an update on the current crime trends in the community. We spoke to Community Garda Sharon Kavanagh who was more than happy to help us.

We covered four main topics that seem to be an issue for our community. They include motor car theft, Covid-19 restrictions, home security and bicycle theft prevention.

1. When it comes to motor car theft, Garda have seen an increasing trend in criminals stealing catalytic converters, usually from Toyota Prius cars. 

In relation to the theft of valuables from vehicles, official advice is to try to hide valuables out of sight and if you can, or ideally remove them from the vehicle.

If you leave your handbag or other valuables in the boot of your car don’t put them in the boot when you are at your destination. Try to put them in your boot before you arrive. This will prevent anyone from seeing that you are leaving goods in your car unattended. 

Don’t leave wallets, expensive sunglasses or anything that may draw attention to your car. Gardaí ask the public to make sure they lock their car at all times.

In relation to the theft of valuables from vehicles, official advice is to try to hide valuables out of sight and if you can, or ideally remove them from the vehicle.

If you leave your handbag or other valuables in the boot of your car don’t put them in the boot when you are at your destination. Try to put them in your boot before you arrive. This will prevent anyone from seeing that you are leaving goods in your car unattended. 

Don’t leave wallets, expensive sunglasses or anything that may draw attention to your car. Gardaí ask the public to make sure they lock their car at all times. 

2. We also spoke on the current government restrictions regarding Covid-19. Gardaí conduct checkpoints on a daily basis and they find that there is still a lot of traffic on the road. Garda Kavanagh wants to gently remind people of the 5km radius we have to obey under level five restrictions. 

3. We then talked about home security. This is typically a time of the year where home burglaries are set on the increase. This is the official advice that Garda Kavanagh provided us with on preventing home burglaries:

• Please ensure house alarms are set at all times. 
• Ensure all valuable items are securely locked away and do not keep large amount of cash at home.(record details of any valuable property) 
• Store house and car keys safely, away from windows and letterboxes
• Lock all doors and window
• If at home or going out, turn on some lights
• Lock all doors and windows
• Do not help the burglar - safely store away ladders, tools etc. 
• Use quality locks on Garden sheds, chain valuable property, tools, bikes, etc. within. 
•  Inform the local Garda station about the premises being vacant to afford passing attention on patrols. 

These reminders are also part of the Lock Up ‘n’ Light Up Campaign in which they remind us to keep our homes safe: if you love it, lock up and light up!

4. While bike theft seems to have decreased a little in the past month, it is still a prevalent crime that the community has become aware of.  We thought it would be a good opportunity to bring it up with the community’s Gardaí and see if they had any advice. This is a list of things you can do to prevent bicycle theft:

• Keep your bicycle in a secure location; avoid leaving bicycles, even for short periods,
• unattended in driveways, etc. 
• Use a good quality lock and always secure your bike to an immovable object, ensuring frame and wheels are locked.
• Keep a written record of the make, model and frame number. Take and store a coloured photograph of the bicycle.
• Add security markings to your bicycle in at least two separate places, clearly visible and not capable of being removed. 
• For very valuable bicycles consider an electronic tracking device inserted within the frame.

We appreciate Sergeant John Long and Community Garda Sharon Kavanagh taking the time to talk to us about how we can make the community safer. Take the tips we have listed above into account and make sure you stay safe as we come into the Christmas period.

2. We also spoke on the current government restrictions regarding Covid-19. Gardaí conduct checkpoints on a daily basis and they find that there is still a lot of traffic on the road. Garda Kavanagh wants to gently remind people of the 5km radius we have to obey under level five restrictions. 

3. We then talked about home security. This is typically a time of the year where home burglaries are set on the increase. This is the official advice that Garda Kavanagh provided us with on preventing home burglaries:

• Please ensure house alarms are set at all times. 
• Ensure all valuable items are securely locked away and do not keep a large amount of cash at home. (record details of any valuable property) 
• Store your house and car keys safely, away from windows and letterboxes
• Lock all doors and window
• If at home or going out, turn on some lights
• Lock all doors and windows
• Do not help the burglar - safely store away ladders, tools etc. 
• Use quality locks on Garden sheds, chain valuable property, tools, bikes, etc. within. 
•  Inform the local Garda station about the premises being vacant to afford passing attention on patrols. 

These reminders are also part of the Lock-Up ‘n’ Light Up Campaign in which they remind us to keep our homes safe: if you love it, lock up and light up!

4. While bike theft seems to have decreased a little in the past month, it is still a prevalent crime that the community has become aware of.  We thought it would be a good opportunity to bring it up with the community’s Gardaí and see if they had any advice. This is a list of things you can do to prevent bicycle theft:

• Keep your bicycle in a secure location; avoid leaving bicycles, even for short periods,
• unattended in driveways, etc. 
• Use a good quality lock and always secure your bike to an immovable object, ensuring frame and wheels are locked.
• Keep a written record of the make, model and frame number. Take and store a coloured photograph of the bicycle.
• Add security markings to your bicycle in at least two separate places, clearly visible and not capable of being removed. 
• For very valuable bicycles consider an electronic tracking device inserted within the frame.

We appreciate Sergeant John Long and Community Garda Sharon Kavanagh taking the time to talk to us about how we can make the community safer. Take the tips we have listed above into account and make sure you stay safe as we come into the Christmas period.