Theft of hay bales is being investigated

DESPITE one of the quietest Januarys for crime, local gardai are still investigating a number of local thefts.

‘We had one burglary in the division in all of January – which is an incredible result,’ crime prevention officer Ian O’Callaghan told The Southern Star. ‘And the text alert system seems to be working particularly well,’ he added.

‘We will have 16 cameras coming online in Dunmanway in two-to-three months, and Bandon in about six months. We already have them in Skibbereen, Schull and Macroom and they are definitely having an effect,’ he said.

However, a number of thefts did occur in recent weeks, including a rather unusual one – the theft of 14-20 bales of hay from a farmyard between January 19th and 21st. The bales, which were taken from the yard in Moneyvolihane, Skibbereen, would be worth about €350. 

Furthermore, there was a theft of a Stihl blower from Cappuaghna, Glengarriff on January 20th, between 3pm and 5pm. There was also a hedgecutter taken and the value of both items was about €400. Both of the items were taken from the back of a commercial van, prompting Sgt O’Callaghan to issue a warning to tradesmen to keep vehicles locked  – at all times.

At about 11.55pm on January 26th, a fly window of a green Mazda hatchback was broken into at Duggan’s Lane in Macroom and CDs were stolen from the glove compartment. On January 27th, a horsebox was taken from a yard at Meelin, Bandon on a Friday morning, at 6am. The blue Ifor Williams double axle horsebox, with a white roof, had a serial number of S13094 and it had a dent on the top right side. It is worth about €4,500 and local gardaí are investigating.

Meanwhile, a pump and generator were taken from the side of the road at Lynch’s Hill Ballinadee on January 26th between 10.30am and 5.30pm, worth €1,300.