Gardaí make 10th arrest in burglary crackdown

ARMED gardaí arrested a teenager following two burglaries at a student accommodation complex.

The 19-year-old was detained following two break-ins at the properties in Cratloe Wood, Co Limerick, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

It was the 10th arrest by Limerick gardaí tackling burglars in the county, and all of those arrested are from the locality.

Senior investigators have said that, while the most recent arrests were of people from Limerick, they were also continuing to target roaming crime gangs operating in the county.

Supt Derek Smart said the arrests were carried out by members of the Regional Support Unit (RSU) after gardaí were notified of the burglaries.

The senior officer told the Irish Independent local gardaí are dealing with “homegrown” burglars as well as those coming from other areas of the country.

“Limerick gardaí have arrested a number of people in recent days in relation to burglaries, and the latest arrest involved members of the RSU,” Supt Smart said.

It is understood that the suspect was found in a field as he attempted to flee.

“After the incident was reported to gardaí, a search of the immediate area was conducted by members of the Armed Support Unit and gardaí from Mayorstone Park,” a Garda spokesman said.

“A man located in the Moy- ross area was arrested and conveyed to Mayorstone Park Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

He is expected to appear before the courts at a later date, the Garda spokesman added.

Over the weekend, three men appeared in court in relation to a burglary in the Castletroy area.

On Thursday, two men were arrested in relation to two burglaries in the same area of the city.