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Criminals target tourist cars near Treaty Stone
A SPATE of car break-ins on Clancy Strand has sparked concern that tourist vehicles are being targeted, while residents remain fearful of reprisals from city criminals.
Det Sgt Jim Ruddle of Mary Street Garda station confirmed that one car was broken into on Monday between 8am and 4.15pm, and another two broken into the following day sometime before 5.30pm.
One local resident, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told the Limerick Leader: "I saw a couple of young lads cycling along Clancy Strand checking out the cars that were parked, and then 20 minutes later they returned."
The culprits, he believes, are deliberately targeting cars belonging to tourists, which could have a knock-on effect on Limerick's already strugging tourism industry.
"These people are not from Limerick and are coming to look at the Treaty Stone and to experience what the city has to offer. It is appalling that this happens to them and nobody seems to care," said the resident.
Cllr Kevin Kiely, who ran the Treaty Bar in nearby Thomondgate for 16 years, repeated calls for a more visible Garda presence in the city as a strong deterrent to criminals, who are evading arrest even during daylight hours.
"I think there should be a lot more Garda patrols in the area. I was asking for that even during my time as chairman of the joint policing committee. Garda need to be visibly seen in these areas. I would appeal to residents living in these areas not to leave any valuables in their cars, because that's what attracts some of these people. If they see coats and bags inside cars, they will try and break in and steal them," he said.
Cllr Kiely pointed to the drugs problem in the city as the motivating factor behind criminals committing acts in broad daylight.
"We have a huge problem on the north side of the city with drugs. Money is a lot scarcer these days than it was. People who have a constant need to feed their drug habits will have no problem breaking into cars and houses. There should be more CCTV cameras in the city centre, which would definitely be a deterrent," he added.
The former mayor asked the people of Limerick once again to stand up to the thugs determined to give the city a bad name.
"The only way the Garda will be able to cut down on crime is if people report it. If people have seen anything suspicious, they should not be afraid to come forward and tell the Garda what they have seen," he said.
Sgt Ruddle is appealing for witnesses to the car breaks-ins to contact Mary Street Garda station at 061-212 464
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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