Law enforcement
'tis the season to be careful... Ireland targets safer shopping this Christmas
Christmas shoppers in Ireland are being urged to be more vigilant as they prepare for the festive season as part of a national ‘day of safety’ organised by An Garda Siochana.
The Garda are urging shoppers to be particularly cautious around car parking in the nation’s retail car parks as figures show 50 cars per month are being targeted resulting in an average theft of €70,000 worth of theft or the equivalent of €300 per incident – one in four of which are from unlocked vehicles.
The Day of Action is a physical and social media campaign to warn shoppers to take care during the festivities as car park thefts have increased across Ireland in the run up to Christmas over the last three years.
“We are organising this national day of safety to make people aware of the dangers to their property, particularly around car parks next to retail areas,” said Niall Featherstone who heads up the crime prevention division for An Garda Siochana.
“We want stores to put posters up and we are taking to social media platforms such as Twitter to promote the need to vigilant. We are also promoting the day on Crime Call later this month,” he added. “If you have had your car broken into and items such as wallets, handbags and laptops stolen, you are not going to park there again which is bad news for the retailers so it is in everyone’s interests to promote this initiative.
“We need more people right across Ireland to put crime prevention on their Christmas shopping list.”
