THE increase in handbag thefts has extended from the city suburbs, where such incidents have been prevalent of late, to east Clare, according to a local representative. Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald said that cars are also being damaged and interfered with in housing estates in the area.
“One woman got her bag snatched from outside her house as she arrived home,” he said.
“The attacker came up behind her and grabbed the bag when she got out of her car. She was visibly shaken as a result of the incident.
“She saw a man wearing a hood, jump into a car which drove off without lights, going towards the main road”.
The councillor added that residents are seeking the re-activation of a Neighbourhood Watch programme and the installation of CCTV cameras at the entrances to housing estates.
“The increase in this anti-social behaviour could be as a result of the recession with people out of jobs but we cannot have people terrorised in this fashion in their own neighbourhoods. People should be constantly on the alert and on the lookout for suspicious people in their areas”.
Cllr Fitzgerald said the Gardaí are seeking assistance from the public in investigating the incidents of theft.
