Garda advice for businesses after shut pub robbed
IN the wake of a break-in at a pub in Blennerville last week, the gardaí are issuing advice to business owners on how to keep their premises secure while they are closed during the Coronavirus lockdown.
Two men have since been arrested in connection with the burglary – which took place in the early hours of last Wednesday morning – but gardaí are urging business owners to remain vigilant.
Tralee Chamber and the Tralee Garda station have reiterated their advice to businesses closed during the COVID-19 crisis to engage with the Gardaí and the Chamber to assist with measures to protect their properties.
Sergeant Tim O’Keeffe of Tralee Garda Station said the gardaí are mounting additional patrols and monitoring closed business premises, but he advised business owners to take their own precautions to protect themselves from thieves.
“We already have additional patrols set up. The two suspects that were arrested in respect of the burglary in Blennerville were apprehended due to our increased patrols. We want to assure business owners that we have extra patrols in place, and we are specifically monitoring business premises and pubs that are now closed,” said Sgt O’Keeffe
Tralee Chamber Alliance and Gardaí have asked business owners concerned about their goods and properties to make contact by emailing business@ tralee.ie or contacting their Garda station so that their business can be added onto the patrols rota. All businesses are advised to heed the following: Secure all windows, doors and shutters ,and ensure that the alarm is set and is working properly, and test the alarm at least once a week.
Always check the premises if the alarm is activated. Let Gardaí know and they will check the premises with you.
If the business premises is closed, inspect it every few days. Check all windows, doors, roof lights and Velux windows, and look for signs of interference.
Some CCTV systems allow for motion alerts to be sent to your smart-phone. Business owners should enquire about this.
Finally, in the case of shops, do not display high-value goods in windows and shop fronts.
Tralee Chamber manage a number of WhatsApp Groups for businesses in the town centre, which facilitate direct communication with the Gardaí and are also designed to assist in community watch. Businesses wishing to be added to these groups should email business@tralee.ie.
“Its particularly disturbing to see that some individuals would take advantage of the situation to target businesses who are already having a tough time. We are asking all businesses that have high-value goods to make contact with ourselves or the Gardai,” said Tralee Chamber Alliance CEO Ken Tobin.