‘Mind your van’ warning as thieves strike
TOOLS ARE BEING STOLEN WHEN THE OWNERS ARE AT WORK ON SITES
GARDAI in North Cork are seeing a marked rise in breakins to tradesmen’s vehicles, not only at night-time but even when they are parked up on a building site.
Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant John Kelly told The Corkman that the theft of tools from work vans had gone “relatively dormant during the recessionary years” after having been very prevalent during the Celtic Tiger boom. However, he said that, as the economy improves, vans and other work vehicles have been targeted in locations ranging from residential to recreational and outside premises where tradespeople are working.
“The fact that property is routinely left overnight in vans continues to incentivise this type of crime. The tools which have been stolen in many instances cost a few thousand euro to replace and, in addition, it can mean that a tradesperson is out of work until they are replaced.” he said.
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GARDAI in North Cork are seeing a marked rise in break-ins to tradesmen’s vehicles not only at night time but even when they are parked up on a working site.
Sergeant John Kelly, Crime Prevention Officer told The Corkman the theft of tools from work-vans had gone “relatively dormant during the recessionary years” after having been very prevalent during the booming Celtic Tiger.
However, he said as the economy improves vans and other work vehicles have been targetted in locations ranging from residential, recreational and outside premises where tradespeople are working.
“The fact that property is routinely left overnight in vans continues to incentive this type of crime. The tools which have been stolen in many instances cost a few thousand euro to replace and in addition, it can mean that a trades-person is out of work until they are replaced. Evidence over the years has shown is that this type of equipment is easily sold on through car boot sales and internet trading sites,” he said.
While not in the North Cork region, a tradesman in Nenagh last week had €20,000 worth of tools stolen out of his van.
Sgt Kelly said serious consideration should be given to fitting a secure locked area/cage in rear of a van for valuable tools and in addition, an alarm should be installed and advertised with a sticker. He also said any overnight parking should be secure – van parked with rear/side door up against a wall in a well lit area.
He said marked property is harder to sell on and a very practical method can be found on www.theftstop.ie, which is a farm theft prevention initiative developed by the IFA and Gardai. Anyone can register on the site for free and get their own security identification. This can be then marked on their machinery and equipment – again advertising the fact that the property is marked with a visible sticker.
While vans are being targetted, he said so too are “unlocked parked cars.” He said Gardai are being kept on their toes as a number of people are simply not locking their car doors. In Youghal, a number of weeks ago, seven cars were broken into in an estate and none of them were locked.
Recently, in Newmarket a woman had her purse stolen from her car which was again unlocked.
He also warned against people withdrawing large sums of money and then putting it into the glove-box and leaving the car.
Just last week, in Fermoy a person withdrew a “four figure sum of money” from a bank and put it into their glovebox. A person had been watching them and shortly afterwards broke into the car.
He said people need to be highly vigilant when taking out large sums of cash and not to leave it in