A CAR owner who went to bed at his home on the Bloodmill Road, having locked his car and brought the keys inside, got the shock of his life when the Gardaí rang him to say it had been involved in a crash.
On Friday 2 June at 8pm, a car owner in his forties parked his car near his home and locked it. He went into his house and thought nothing more about it until the following morning when he received a phone call from Gardaí. They informed him that his car had been involved in a collision with another car, said Sergeant Ber Leetch, Crime Prevention Officer at Henry Street Garda Station.
“They were enquiring if he was the owner of this car, if he knew where his car was, and had he given anybody permission to drive it,” Sergeant Leetch explained.
“The man was confused and told Gardaí that his car was parked in his estate, but when he looked out there was no sign of it. He went to look for his car keys but could not find them.
Sergeant Leetch said that it soon became clear to the man that some time overnight his car keys and car had been stolen.
“A thief had entered his home as he had neglected to lock his front door and simply walked out with his car keys,” she said.
While there were fortunately no injuries in the crash, Sgt Leetch said the driver of the stolen car left the scene and now the other car owner must apply through Motor Insurance of Ireland to try to reclaim some costs for the damage to his car.
“There are many good reasons to keep your car keys safe, for instance the terrible inconvenience of a missing car, the cost to replace it or repair it if it is recovered, and the harm a car thief could do in your car.
“Lock your doors and store your keys out of sight in a drawer or in a bowl in a press, anywhere that they cannot be seen by a thief looking through your windows or the glass in a door,” Sgt Leetch warned.
