Communities team up to turn the tables on rural criminals
CRIME prevention measures and rural isolation came under scrutiny at a public meeting hosted by Dromtarriffe and Kilcorney Community Alert Scheme in Dromagh Community Hall.
Speakers highlighted criminals look for easy targets where the risk of detection is slight and profits are high. However, a series of simple, common sense crime prevention practices can make home and property less attractive and less available to the criminal.
Dromtariffe Community Alert Chairman Charlie Drake spoke of the importance to reduce the risk of crime.
“Our public meeting was about making people aware and sharing our local knowledge with An Garda Siochana,” said Mr Drake.
“Keeping our eyes and ears open, if we see anything suspicious we phone the Garda straight away.
“There has always been a bit of a reluctance in Ireland in interacting with An Garda Siochana. In these times of fraud, robberies and violence it is essential we interact with the Gardaí more openly and more frequently than ever before.
“I can remember back 30 or 40 years ago and there wasn’t even a lock in the doors. There wasn’t a need for one but times have changed”, he said.
Sergeant Ian O’Callaghan spoke These type of incidences are on topics such as An Garda Siochána an open invitation to criminals who crime prevention information, personal have a ready market for their ill-gotten safety, bogus traders and callers, gains and if that ready market wasn’t cyber crime, directions to your home there then they would not have been in the case of an emergency, Text Alert stolen in the first place so if you are registration and farm theft. offered any tools on the cheap, it is
“A lot of thefts are from buildings up to you to report it to An Garda that are left unsecure and could have Síochana”, said Mr. Drake. been prevented with a bit more commonsense. Sergeant Dan Murphy spoke about the local rural crimes and statistics also about the importance of CCTV in towns and villages. Garda John Crowley and Garda Kathryn Canty, Group Liaison Officers highlighted the importance of local co-operation between the general public and An Garda Siochán, urging people to be alert and observant on their daily travels and report any suspicious activities to the Gardaí.
“There was a fantastic response to the Q and A section from the floor of the meeting with very relevant questions on rural crime put to An Garda Siochána, and very informative answers and advice in return.
“The community alert group wish to thank everyone involved”, said Mr. Drake.