Property indexing app recommended at Text Alert AGM

A Garda Siochána app that provides people with a place to store details of their valuables was highly recommended at the AGM of the Kilcullen Garda District Text Alert, writes Brian Byrne.

Community Garda Jon Brien said the phone-based app is 'simple and very secure' and can really help in returning recovered stolen property to their owners. 

The app, available for all smartphones, also makes it easy when reporting thefts of property that has been indexed on it.

"Users can input a photo of the item, any relevant serial number and description," Gda Brien noted. "That means if it's stolen, all the details are immediately available when reporting to us. If we recover property, we can find the owner quickly through the app — there's nothing worse than recovering stolen property and not being able to find the owner."

All data on the app is stored locally on the device, and not by An Garda Siochána.

Gda Brien also gave details of the property marking scheme which is being relaunched after having to be deferred during the pandemic. The Gardai have two marking machines for the county, and will be training representatives from community groups in using them. The machine can be lent to such groups, and subtly etches an Eircode onto the item being marked.

The system is particularly useful for high-value machinery often targeted by thieves, but it is equally suitable for marking something as small as a laptop or an iPhone. The identifying Eircode can be removed if the item is being sold on.

Kilcullen's Sgt Tom O'Donoghue reminded those present that with darker evenings and winter setting in, people should review their security against break-ins. "Be security aware, use security lights, and also switch on your home alarms at night," he said. "A break-in is really traumatic, so keep yourselves, and your property, safe."

He emphasised to the meeting that Kilcullen gardai are always available, and even if the station is not manned at any given time the main phone number is always redirected to a mobile in that case. "We take local crime very personally. If you see something that you're not happy about, please do ring. Nine times out of ten it will turn out to be nothing, but it's good to establish that."

Sgt O'Donoghue also asked that those present should make their friends and neighbours aware of security procedures, and to look out for each other.

Earlier, outgoing chair of the Text Alert group Sabina Reddy had thanked all those who had been involved since the initiative was set up ten years ago. A new committee has now taken over, chaired by Aaron Cotter, with Elaine Jackson as Secretary and Martin Kelleher Treasurer.

Sgt O'Donoghue thanked all involved, saying that Text Alert has proved to be a very effective and efficient way of helping reduce crime in communities where it is active.

There are currently 600 people in and around Kilcullen signed up to the Text Alert system.

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