Politician fears she was being watched in Limerick before theft of laptop bag

A LIMERICK councillor has praised gardai and the kindness of strangers for helping to return a laptop bag containing thousands of euros worth of equipment.

Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan parked her car in Shannon Street, Limerick city at 5.15pm on Tuesday afternoon prior to attending an appointment. When she returned at 6pm there was a note left on her windscreen from one of the barmen in Myles Breen’s pub.

“It said that he had seen my boot was not closed properly and he closed it. A woman across the road came up to him and said she saw a woman take something out of the boot. She had a full description of this woman.”

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Cllr O’Sullivan had earlier moved the bag from the passenger seat into the boot for security. However, gardai later told her she was probably being watched.

The bag contained her work laptop, work phone, AirPods, glasses, headset and makeup bag.

“I was in shock and disbelief. You are cross with yourself, thinking did I not close the boot properly, how did that happen? I don’t know if the boot was not closed properly or if they forced it.”

The Fine Gael Limerick City North councillor drove straight to Henry Street where gardai began investigating immediately.

“I gave them a photo of the bag but I was thinking, ‘That’s it, I am not going to see it again’".

Cllr O’Sullivan got a phone call at 11pm to say gardai had located the bag which had been stashed in a laneway.

“I was very surprised. I was already thinking about what I would have to replace.”

Unfortunately, the perpetrator had taken the councillor’s air pods, glasses and work phone. It is believed that the bag was hidden in a location with the intention of it being removed after nightfall.

Cllr O’Sullivan said she was very relieved to get her work laptop and other items in the bag back.

“I only have a limited amount of things to replace now as opposed to everything that was in the bag, including the bag itself.”

She wished to thank the woman who passed on the description of the culprit, and also the barman in Myles Breen’s for his kindness. She also paid tribute to the gardai for their fast response.

“That woman doesn't know how important it was that she passed on the person’s description. The gardai said if they hadn’t got the description they wouldn't have been able to track the thief on CCTV. I’m very grateful to her.”

Cllr O’Sullvan said sometimes we don’t realise that we may have information that can be key to a garda investigation. She concluded by saying the crime is a reminder to all of how careful you have to be with your possessions.

It is understood a woman has been arrested in connection with the theft.