Seasonal home crime prevention advice given in Kilcullen

Garden tools and equipment are among the most common things stolen from households at this time of the year, a crime prevention meeting in Kilcullen has been told, writes Brian Byrne.

The meeting, hosted in Kilcullen GAA clubhouse by the Kilcullen Garda District Text Alert Committee, also heard advice that home-owners should make sure front doors and windows are locked while they may be working in the back garden, as thieves can very quickly get in and out if provided with an opportunity. A similar caveat applies for back doors while working in the front garden.

Kilcullen-based Gardai Joanne O'Sullivan and Justin Meaney gave advice at the event, where participants were also provided with details of the new Cairde App which is being rolled out to enhance the Community Text Alert system.

Homeowners were also advised not to confront intruders if they realise someone has come in, but to call out to suggest there are others in the house, while dialling 999. Other seasonal anti-crime advice included notifying local Gardai when going on holiday, and giving a home's Eircode so they can drive by to make sure all is OK. The digital age warning not to broadcast on social media that homeowners are going away for holidays was reiterated. Keeping gates closed, and switching on the house alarm even if only going to the shop for a short while, was also advised.

Keeping details of valuables, including serial numbers and photographs, was emphasised, something that's much easier today with most people having smartphones. "But do have the details jotted down somewhere other than your phone, which can be lost," Gda Joanne suggested. It was noted that the new Cairde App has a section where details and photos can be kept independently of the physical phone. "Just know what you have," Gda Justin said. "Things can turn up eventually, and it makes it easier for us to return them to their owners if the details are given to us when they're stolen."

It was emphasised that people should call in anything that concerns them, an unrecognised car where it shouldn't be, people behaving suspiciously, livestock straying on the road. "We're always available to the public to engage with us," Gda Justin said. "We do rely on people out there to get information to us." Both Gardai stressed that information given is confidential, and the source is never revealed. A caller need not give their name if they wish, they said.

There was also a discussion on text and phone call scams — "don't click links, don't open anything, don't answer the phone if it's not somebody you know or somebody you are expecting. Revenue does not call or text people, banks don't send links or ask you for personal details in texts."

There's a complement of seven Gardai in Kilcullen Garda Station, which is open from 7am-4pm each day. The phone number is 045 481212. 

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