The Dublin Metropolitan Police east Garda division contains some of the largest and best known shopping centres in the country – the Dundrum Town Centre, the Frascati Centre, Carrickmines Park and Dún Laoghaire shopping centre are among several in the area.
Shoplifting is a relatively minor crime, but the cumulative effect of it has serious implications for retailers who lose thousands of euro every year.
In response, gardaí in south Dublin set up Operation Táirge (goods) to target prolific shoplifters and shoplifting gangs. The special unit was organised to tackle the problem in the area using surveillance and CCTV to identify offenders. To date, 81 people have been arrested under the operation.
Forty-one people charged with various offences under Operation Táirge were expected in Dún Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday, but their appearances coincided with a three-day nationwide solicitors’ strike in a protest over legal aid fees.
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As a consequence, most of those before the courts had no legal representation and were put back to later dates, many of them to December 7th, by Judge Anne Watkin. She also issued bench warrants for several accused individuals who did not turn up.
There was 15 juveniles arrested under Operation Táirge, but they were dealt with separately.
Supt Gordon Wolfe of Blackrock Garda station said Operation Táirge was set up in response to a request from retailers for the gardaí to clamp down on shoplifters.
“Today you’ll see the product of all that work... as part of a strategic goal to combat retail crime and support our businesses,” he said.
Supt Brian Halligan of Dún Laoghaire Garda station said they will be continuing the operation.
“We are very aware that the combination effect of [shoplifting] has had a significant impact on retailers,” he said.
[ Retailers in Dublin: ‘shoplifting is a huge concern’Opens in new window ]
“From our engagement with the business community, we have found there is a cumulative effect of those retail crimes. Businesses are feeling it. We are very committed to working with those businesses.”
The most popular stolen items are perfumes, sunglasses and other goods that are small but potentially valuable.
However, there has also been a campaign of theft of meat by organised gangs, which can steal as much as €600 in high-end cuts in a single raid.
