Glanmire crime text service for expansion

THOUSANDS of people are to be recruited for a new text-messaging service, which gardaí hope will aid them further in their fight against criminals.

A pilot scheme undertaken by gardaí in Co Cork has proved so successful they want to get as many people as possible involved.

Gardaí in Glanmire have sent out occasional text messages to 600 householders and 70 businesses advising them of crimes.

The results have been so good they want to expand their database of mobile phone numbers and send text alerts on a far more frequent basis.

Such messaging is almost instantaneous and speed is often crucial to gardaí capturing criminals.

Text messages advising people about a vandal attack on a school in the area — which caused €7,000 worth of damage — resulted in gardaí questioning three people. Messages also thwarted an attempt by criminals using a skimming device on a local ATM from getting away with large sums from people’s accounts.

The text messaging system was the brainchild of Louise Opperman, who established it in nearby Glounthaune.

She suggested it to Noel Fitzgerald, a community Garda, who enhanced it even further.

Garda Fitzgerald said text alerts could be sent about a variety of subjects, including suspicious vehicles, rogue tradesmen, burglaries and vandalism.

“People would ring us about an incident. If we need to we can text it on to the public. In turn they would hopefully provide us with speedy replies which would help us solve the case,” Garda Fitzgerald said.

Gardaí hope to sign up thousands of people living in Glanmire, Glounthaune, Knockraha and Little Island for the new database.

Fundraising will take place to pay for the scheme.

A large number of interested people turned up at the Vienna Woods Hotel last night to hear gardaí outline the usefulness of the service. Superintendent Pat Sheahan said: “I’m sure other communities will be anxious to develop a similar system,” he said.

The event was also attended by Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann, who said: “It is a very good initiative and will support community policing because it carries a strong capacity for crime prevention due to the fact that messages can be got out fast to the public,” Chief Supt McGann said.