Gangs of criminals wearing special clothing are targeting scenic areas for breaking into cars, a senior garda has warned. In one place alone there have been 1,000 such crimes this year, where laptops, mobile phones, wallets and other valuables have been taken.
Such is its prevalence that a Garda chief superintendent has strongly criticised motorists who only put their valuables into the boot of their car after they have parked. "I have no doubt there are gangs of people operating who focus purely on people heading to these beauty spots and who park up and leave something valuable on view in their car," said Chief Supt Pat Magee of the Louth/Meath Garda division.
"These criminals are there ahead of you, waiting and watching for people to do such things."
He said the culprits wear special padding over their elbows to prevent them from being injured when they force in windows.
There are 90 miles of coastline in Louth and, with the recent mild weather, more people are going to scenic spots and leaving their cars with their valuables clearly visible, said Chief Supt Magee.
"It is a very frustrating thing from a Garda point of view because the public have a huge role to play. It is the single biggest crime in this division at the moment," he said.
Tourist-related crime in Louth made national headlines this year when an English couple were brutally attacked after they parked their camper van in a lay-by on the former Dublin to Belfast road. Two men from Co Down were charged in relation to that crime.