Robbery on the dance-floor: women warned

A VALENTINE’S Day heartbreak warning went out in Limerick last night — but it had nothing to do with romance.

Gardaí in the city issued an appeal to women to safeguard their personal belongings.

The appeal follows concerns about a nightclub thief being on the prowl in recent weeks.

In one incident, the thief managed to make off with €700 taken from a purse.

Crime prevention officer Sgt Liam Sheehan said: “A young woman was out enjoying herself in a city night club. At some point, possibly around 2am, she put her bag on the dance-floor as she was out dancing and it disappeared.

“The dance-floor is not the place for a handbag. When people are out on Valentine’s night, I would urge them to be sensible about keeping a close eye on their property.”

He added: “I would also appeal to people not to go out with large amounts of cash. A night out did not necessitate the kind of money this young woman was carrying.”

Gardaí suspect the handbag thief may be a woman.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Limerick also yesterday renewed their appeal to the owners of legally-held shotguns to secure them after another theft.

Two guns were taken in a break-in to a house in the Ballysimon Road area of the city.

Limerick gangs have been targeting the homes of members of gun clubs.

A plot to raid a gun club member in Co Limerick was uncovered by gardaí recently and the attempted robbery was foiled.