Gardaí believe countywide burglaries are connected

Gardaí believe countywide burglaries may be connected


Anton McNulty

GARDAÍ believe that burglaries that took place in Westport, Castlebar and Ballina last Wednesday may be connected.
All of the burglaries occurred between 12 midday and 6pm. The Gardaí are seeking four men seen in a 2003 black Mercedes car with Carlow (CW) registration plates in the Westport vicinity that afternoon.
Four homes in Westport were burgled. The homes, which are in the Knockranny, Belclare and West Road areas of the town, were unoccupied at the time. Cash and jewellery were taken.
In Castlebar, homes in the Knockapunta and Windsor areas were targeted. The homes were also unoccupied, and cash and jewellery also taken. One home in Ballina was also burgled.
A Community Alert text message was sent out by the Gardaí to people in the greater Westport area – from Louisburgh to Newport and Islandeady to Leenane – appealing for sightings of the black Mercedes.
The action was welcomed by Joe Gibbons, Chairman of Westport Neighbourhood Watch, who had previously criticised the Gardaí for not issuing text alerts despite ongoing break-ins in the locality.
“We are very happy by the fact that we got this alert because it will give people confidence. We hope the gardaí get information on the vehicle,” he told The Mayo News. “We were very disappointed that more text messages were not being used after we decided to set up the system to the Gardaí’s requirements. There is concern locally with the number of break-ins, and we now feel the Superintendent has taken our thoughts on board and it will now be well organised.”

Lack of text alerts
Addressing the concerns with the lack of text alerts, Supt Joe McKenna told The Mayo News that he took on board the feelings of the committee but added the Gardaí could only provide information when they have it and when it is valid. “We cannot keep sending out text alerts all the time because people can get complacent with them, and we also cannot be putting out gossip. It has to be concrete information. If we have the information we will give it out because it is of benefit to the community and to us,” he said.
Mr Gibbons explained that 80 co-ordinators are calling door-to-door in their designated areas collecting names and numbers of people who want to be included in the scheme. There are a small number of areas not yet included in the system and these are Dooncastle, Kilbree, Cushin, Knockrooskey and Killawalla.
“We expect to complete the project by October 20 and we will then have in excess of 2,500 families on the database. Each text alert that is issued will cost approximately €140. We are looking for the support of corporate sponsors and any suggestions for fundraising will be greatly appreciated,” he said.
Mr Gibbons urged people to keep an eye on neighbours’ properties and to be on the lookout for suspicious persons or activity.
“The alerts won’t stop the break-ins, but it will put people on guard. I would also urge people to think about installing an alarm, because the burglars will see a house without an alarm as a softer touch,” he said.
Anyone living in areas not yet included in the system who would like to get involved can contact Joe Gibbons on 086 2527403 or Joan Jennings on 087 2411118. Anyone with any information on the burglaries should contact Westport Garda Station on 098 25555 or their local station.