Intruder alarms can deter thieves - say Limerick gardaí

HOMEOWNERS and businesses are being urged by Limerick gardaí to have intruder alarms fitted, as a way of scaring off potential burglars. 

On Sunday, May 5, a homeowner was away from their house on the Ennis Road and at 4.35am, when they got an alert from their alarm company. 

The front window of his house had been tampered with, but because the intruder alarm went off, the criminals ran away. 

Two restaurants in Limerick City were broken into last week and cash floats from the till were taken and Gardaí said intruder alarms could have helped to prevent the thefts. 

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Meanwhile, Gardaí encourage people to be vigilant about alarms, but also basic security steps to secure property. 

On Saturday, May 4, a house in Castletroy was left empty and between 2.20pm and 7.30pm, thieves entered through an unlocked back door and took property to the value of €500. 

Gardaí said the same logic applies to cars, as a phone and laptop were stolen from an unlocked car on O’Callaghan Strand during the night of Friday, May 3 and into Saturday, May 4. 

In another instance, cash was taken from an unlocked car in Murroe. 

A sum of cash was also taken from an unlocked car in Adare. 

People are also being urged not to leave valuables in sight and to secure them in a safe place. 

A car was locked and parked on Catherine Place, but cash was left in it. 

A criminal broke the window and took around €20 from the car. 

Sergeant Ber Leetch of Henry Street garda station warned: “A car is not locked until you pull the door handle, do not rely on the flashing lights and mechanical sounds as you may have just unlocked your car. Also, leave nothing in your car that might attract the eye of a criminal.”