Fears grow after spate of Christmas burglaries

A GALWAY senator has called for more Gardaí on the beat and for far stiffer sentences to be handed down to ‘serial burglars’, following a spate of break-ins in the Carnmore area over the past two weeks.

Senator Ollie Crowe (FF) told the Connacht Tribune that over the past fortnight, there had been about 14 break-ins to houses – mostly unoccupied – around Carnmore, with jewellery, Christmas gifts and cash the main targets for the thieves.

He said that the modus operandi for the gangs was a ‘drop-off’ of two three lads along a stretch of roadway who would then check out what houses were unoccupied.

Senator Crowe – who lives in Carnmore – said that the driver with the gang would park maybe 100 yards or so away from the target house and then speed off once a house had been broken into and the contents loaded into the van or car.

“Of course, it’s not just Carnmore that’s being hit by these types of criminals – wherever they see a chance, they will go for it.

“It really is a horrible experience for any householder or family to come to their homes and to find them ransacked with often very personal items of jewellery stolen,” said Senator Crowe.

He said that while he welcomed the announcement from Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris of 800 new Garda recruits – along with 400 admin’ staff – through the course of 2022, he also wanted to know what the net increase would be, taking retirements into account.

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie