Community Groups
Garda Síochána Supporting Safer Communities Campaign
13, Jun 2011 - 10:21

An Garda Síochána is running a national Safety Initiative, Garda Supporting Safer Communities Campaign at present. The aim of the campaign is to obtain strategic benefits in public re-assurance and improve the perception of public safety within Communities.

The primary objective of this Campaign is to raise awareness within communities, of initiatives aimed at Preventing Crime, reducing the fear of crime and promoting Road Safety during the Summer Months. The Primary focus during this Campaign, from a ‘National' perspective will be in the following areas:

• Burglaries

• Theft from Vehicles

• Theft of Farm Machinery

• Theft of Pedal Cycles

• Road Safety

Facts about Burglaries:

• 27% of all burglaries occur through the front door.
• 32% of burglars enter your home through an unsecured door or window.
• 37% of burglars enter through poorly secured doors and windows.
• 23.5% of all burglaries take place between 12pm and 4pm.
• Thursday and Friday are the most likely days on which to be burgled.
• Based on data from 2004 to 2010, there has been a 16% drop in residential burglaries during the summer months. We want to improve on this figure.

Simple but Effective Burglary Prevention Advice:

1. Lock your doors and windows, sounds simple, but the data tells us we are not locking our front doors or rear windows. 1 in 3 burglaries could have been prevented by this simple action.
2. When we are in our homes and gardens we should also lock doors and windows which are out of our view.
3. When leaving our homes, ensure the doors and windows are fully secured. Use your Alarm, if you have one. Ask a neighbour / friend to check your house if you are away for longer periods. Lock and secure your sheds/garages, tools and ladders are valuable property and aids to burglars.
4. The home security ‘check-list challenge' is available on the Garda Website. This guide will give you even more ways to secure your home and help us reduce the number of burglaries through out the year. Visit www.garda.ie

Facts about Theft from Vehicles:

• 47% of incidents reported in 2010 occurred between 12pm and 9pm with Saturday being the most common day for thefts.
• 16% of vehicles were unsecured; the majority had a window smashed or door forced to gain entry.
• Cash was taken in 27% of incidents, Mobile phones account for 15%, Handbags 14%, Sat Navs 13%
• There has been a 12% increase in laptops stolen and an 8% increase in mobile phones stolen in the last year. There has been a slight reduction of 1% in Sat Navs being taken.

Simple but Effective Theft from Vehicles Prevention Advice:

1. Ensure all windows and doors are locked. Set your alarm. Never leave the keys in the ignition or the engine running; you could compromise your insurance cover.
2. Never leave valuables inside the car, if you can't take them with you, lock them in the boot, but do this out of sight. Never leave property under the seat, it is not a secure location and property can often be seen. Cash / Credit Cards on view are an invitation for an opportunist thief to break into your car.
3. Park in a well lit area and avoid parking in isolated places.
4. For more Crime Prevention advice on Vehicle Security go to www.garda.ie

Facts about Theft of Farm Machinery:

• There have been approximately 1,316 items of farm equipment stolen in the past 12 months, a 5% increase on the previous 12 months.
• Increased amounts of these thefts occur in Spring and Autumn, which may be related to peak farming activity.
• Thefts can occur at all hours and days of the week.
• Farm items stolen include Tractors, Quad Bikes, Gates and Fertilizer.

Simple but Effective Farm Machinery Theft Prevention Advice:

1. Store your tools and smaller machinery in secured buildings close to the farmhouse. Photograph machinery and tools, keep a detailed record of make, serial number and colour.  Mark the property with a uniquely identifiable brand in both obvious and secret locations. Restrict access to your farmyard, install gates and fix them to sturdy concrete or metal posts. Keep them locked and consider appropriate signage such as "private property".
2. Consider installing an alarm and CCTV in vulnerable areas out of view of the farm house. Install good lighting to illuminate areas viewed from the home or covered by CCTV.
3. Consider joining a Community Alert scheme or starting your own. Report suspicious   activity to local Gardaí immediately. For further information on farmyard security visit www.garda.ie

Facts about Thefts of Bicycles:

• 2011 to date has seen thefts of pedal cycles increase far above the previous average.
• Thefts of pedal cycles are highly seasonal with crimes increasing as the year progresses towards October.
• Bicycles are most often stolen in between 3pm and 11pm.

Simple but Effective Bicycle Theft Prevention Advice:

1. Keep your bicycle in a secure location; avoid leaving bicycles, even for short periods, unattended in driveways, etc. Use a good quality lock and always secure your bike to an immovable object, ensuring frame and wheels are locked.
2. Keep a written record of the make, model and frame number. Take and store a coloured photograph of the bicycle.
3. Security mark your bicycle in at least two separate places, clearly visible and not capable of being removed. Consider placing a sticker warning that your bicycle is security marked. For very valuable bicycles consider an electronic tracking device inserted within the frame.
4. For further information on bicycle security visit www.garda.ie

Facts about Road Safety:

• 9 out of 10 pedestrians will die when struck by a car travelling at 60kph or more.
• 1% reduction in speed will lead to a 2% reduction in minor injury collisions - 3% reduction in serious injury collisions and a 4% reduction in fatal collisions.
• 44.9% of people killed on our roads are aged between 16 and 30 year olds.
• 75.4% are male and 24.6% are female.
• 49.8% of fatal collisions occur between 4pm on a Friday and 6am on a Monday.
• 1 unit of alcohol (½ pint beer) takes approximately 1 hour to leave your body.
• 1 in 5 driver deaths in Ireland could be attributed to fatigue.
• You are 4 times more likely to have a crash when you are using a mobile phone.

Simple but Effective ‘Road Safety' Advice:

1. Speed - Always travel at a speed that enables you to stop in the distance you can see ahead of you to be clear, regardless of the speed limit.  Always slow down when weather and road conditions deteriorate or when visibility is reduced. Reduce your speed where there are likely to be pedestrians, especially at night on unlit roads.
2. Alcohol and Drugs- Remember alcohol takes time to process through your body (1 unit of alcohol = ½ pint beer takes 1 hour). This is especially important the morning after. Alcohol and drugs will impair your ability to drive and effect your judgement, reactions, vision, and ability to make decisions.
3. Fatigue - Never ignore the signs of fatigue - the consequences could be fatal. Research indicates that fatigue could be a factor in 1 in 5 driver deaths in Ireland. If feeling the effects of fatigue - STOP the car, take a break (Get a coffee or take a short nap).  Don't be tempted to keep driving if you are nearly home - you may not make it.
4. Seat Belts - Make sure that every occupant of the car is wearing a seat belt - it won't stop a crash but it may save your life in that crash. As a driver you are responsible for ensuring that every passenger under 17 yrs of age is wearing a seatbelt - prosecution will result in a fine and penalty points.
5. Mobile Phones - It's hard to concentrate on 2 things at the same time, missing a call won't kill you. Remember texting or reading a text will also distract you and may kill you and/or your passengers. SWITCH OFF - BEFORE YOU DRIVE OFF. It is an offence in Ireland to use a hand held mobile phone.
6. Visit www.garda.ie for Road Safety information.

Crime Prevention advice can also be obtained from the Garda Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Tony Cosgrove at Castlebar Garda Station, Telephone 094-9038200.