BUILDERS and farmers in Limerick are being warned to secure their valuable machinery after three trailers were stolen in the county in recent days.
The first of these, according to Garda John Finnerty of Henry Street Garda Station, was a Red Rock tri axel low loader trailer stolen from a construction site at Skagh, Croom. The theft happened at around 11pm on October 9.
Garda Finnerty said that the trailer was later seen being pulled by a tractor heading in the direction of Morenane Cross, which sparked notice because “it would be unusual to see a tractor and trailer on the road after 11pm during this time of the year”.
The second theft was of a galvanised Ifor Williams trailer, described by Garda Finnerty as being 10ft by 5ft with 4 wheels underneath the body and a H-frame to the front.
The Henry Street Garda said that the trailer was stolen from a farmyard at the townland of Court, Kildimo, between 11am on October 13 and 2pm on October 17.
In Askeaton, a grey Challenger builder’s trailer (8ft by 4ft) and a 1.5tonne red and grey Takeuchi TB216 track machine were stolen between 11.30pm on October 16 and 4am on October 17.
Gardaí say that many of these crimes can be prevented through greater vigilance and implementing standard security practices. The advice is to lock machinery and plant equipment and park them in a well-lit area inside a secure compound when not in use.
Garda Finnerty suggested the use of GPS tracking on expensive equipment, which can greatly increase the chance of recovering stolen goods.
He also advised that owners take a clear photograph of equipment and keep a register of the make, serial number, chassis number, vehicle identification number, colour, and any unusual features.
Gardaí in Croom (061 397 240), Pallaskenry (061 393 102), and Newcastle West (069 20 650) are investigating the thefts and have appealed to the public for assistance.
