GARDAÍ are warning people in Limerick to keep their car keys in a safe, concealed place, and lock their cars and homes before going to bed.
This comes after a 22-year-old man was asleep in his house in Castletroy when a burglar entered his home between midnight and 7am on Thursday, January 12.
“During this time, someone entered his house through a sliding door that had been left open at the back of the house. The keys of his car were taken from the kitchen table and his car was driven from the driveway,” Limerick Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Ber Leetch explained.
“He had heard nothing but realised his car was gone when he looked out of the window the following morning.”
In a separate incident on Monday January 16, a woman was asleep in her home in Dromin, Kilmallock, when she woke to the sound of her car starting. She had left the keys of her car in the ignition.
“A short time later this car failed to stop for Gardaí but it was stopped eventually and a man was arrested. The lady did get her car back, but she was very lucky.”
Sgt Leetch pointed out that a large amount of cars are either never seen again, burnt out, or very badly damaged.
“Keep your car keys in a safe, out of sight place, lock your car, and lock up your house,” she advised.
