LIMERICK city is a not a playground for thugs – that was the warning this week to criminals as gardai leave them no place to hide.
Superintendent Derek Smart warned that the Henry Street division of An Garda Siochana are stepping up Operation Mierle in targeting the latest wave of retail crime in the city.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Superintendent Smart said that a unit of five gardai are attached to Operation Mierle and they have targeted up to a dozen shoplifters and a number of youths who have armed themselves in the city.
“Through proactive onstreet policing we have seen a number of arrests made against these young teens who seem hell bent on causing trouble.
“A number of arrests have been made in respect of prolific shoplifters and they are being sent to the higher courts as investigations have linked them to other outstanding thefts from shops.
Supt Smart added that when there are a multiplicity of charges, “the courts get a better picture of the incidents happening in the city”.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has two files going to Limerick Circuit Court where separate shoplifters have 10 and 14 charges pending.
“This goes on to highlight the plight of the retailers, especially when you have armed youths going around threatening and causing this type of trouble”.
Shop thefts in the Henry Street rose by 25 per cent in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2017.
“Limerick city is not a playground for thugs to who want to disrupt city life”, Supt Smart warned.
Last week, it emerged that Gardai would be working closely with groups of retailers and business owners to set up a watch group in the midst of a business owner being threatened by two youths armed with steel pipes.
Supt Smart again called for business owners to engage with the community policing units so as to better help businesses in dealing with criminal activity.
“Arrests will be made on foot of complaints and we will continue to target those who are hell bent on disrupting city life” Supt Smart said, adding that Operation Mierle will also stamp on anti social behaviour at all hours on city streets.
“The Regional Support Unit are also on patrols and the patterns will be incorporated to also support patrolling gardai”, he revealed.
In speaking to the Limerick Post this week, Supt Smart also added that 10 criminals are now before the courts in respect of successful arrests through Operation Thor targeting active burglars in Limerick.
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