Warning over unlocked cars as thieves strike

GARDAÍ are once again advising car owners to lock their car doors, even when parked outside their home, after two incidents of theft from unlocked cars over the past week.

The first incident took place at Callas Hill, Berrings between the hours of 8.20pm on Wednesday August 1st and 6.20am the following day. A sum of cash and a driving licence was stolen from an unlocked car outside a house.

The second incident of theft took place at Barrachauring, Donoughmore between the hours of 9.30pm on Thursday August 2nd and 11am the following day. Cash was stolen from a car that had been left unlocked in a driveway.

Speaking to The Southern Star, Cork West Garda division crime prevention officer Sgt Ian O’Callaghan said that car owners need to be a lot more vigilant about locking their car doors even when at home.

‘I have to stress the importance of locking your car – even when it’s parked on the driveway outside your home. Leaving it unlocked makes it very easy for thieves to get access to it,’ said Sgt  O’Callaghan.

In Skibbereen two hub caps, with a value of €160, were stolen from a rental car on North Street between 1pm on July 26th and 10.30am the following day. Also in Skibbereen, a burglary took place at a licensed premises on North Street on July 28th between 7am and 10am, and a sum of cash was stolen.

‘There have been very few incidents overall in recent weeks with three thefts recorded and two burglaries, and one of those has been detected already,’ added Sgt O’Callaghan.

Meanwhile, regional support unit patrols were spotted by members of the public at various events and festivals in West Cork over the bank holiday weekend. 

However, garda sources said that it would be routine and normal for these units to attend public events and that nothing untoward happened over the weekend.