Cars stolen from outside Limerick homes while owners were asleep

GARDAI are appealing to motorists to properly secure the keys of their vehicles at night.

It follows a number of incidents, across the city and county, during which intruders stole cars having located the keys. 

In two incidents, which have been highlighted to raise awareness, the owners of the cars were asleep when their homes were entered and their cars stolen. 

In one incident last week, a 22 year-old old male was asleep in his house in Castletroy between midnight and 7am when his home was burgled.

"During this time, an unknown person entered his house through back sliding door that had been left open. The keys of
his car were taken from the kitchen table and his car was then driven from driveway. He had heard nothing but realised his car was gone when he looked out of the window the following morning," said divisional crime prevention officer Sergeant Ber Leetch.

Mystery surrounds loud bang heard in Limerick

In another incident, which occurred in County Limerick earlier this week, a car owner heard it being driven away by a thief when she was woken.

"At approximately 1am on Monday, a lady in her early sixties was asleep in bed in Dromin, Kilmallock. She woke to sound of her car starting, she ran out and saw her car driving towards Kilmallock. Unfortunately, she had left the keys of her car in the ignition of the car," said Sgt Leetch.

A short time later this car failed to stop for gardai but it was stopped eventually and a male was arrested.

"The lady did get her car back but she was very lucky, a large amount of cars are either never seen again, burnt out or very badly damaged. Keep your car keys in a safe, out of sight place, lock your car and lock up your house," added Sgt Leetch.